BHUBANESWAR: The State is planning to obtain geographical indication (GI) tag for the age-old Palm Leaf etching craft.Puri Creative Handicrafts Cooperative Society Limited, a Puri-based cooperative society dealing with handicrafts, along with the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), that is attached to the Union Ministry of Textiles, has started working on documentation of the craft and survey of artisans for application of the GI tag.
Odisha already has three handicrafts that have earned the GI tag. Those are Stone Carving of Konark, Applique work of Pipili and Pattachitra (scroll painting) of Raghurajpur. On behalf of the State Government, Utkalika had applied for the GI registration under Intellectual Property Rights for these crafts.
The GI indication would provide legal protection to the craft, prevent its unauthorised use and enhance its demands in international market. Currently, sale of Tala Patra Chitra in both national and international markets is much less than that of Pattachitra.
At a workshop organised by the cooperative society here on Monday, Special Officer, Handicrafts Department Sanatan Nayak said the State Government is keen on GI registration of Palm Leaf etching or Tala Patra Chitra, which is unique to the craft traditions of Odisha in many ways. Stating that the Government would extend help to the cooperative society for the purpose, he said documentation for GI registration is a lengthy process and would require at least two to three years.
The society would identify all Tala Patra artists across the State and form a craft cluster which would apply for the GI registration. The process has already started, said president of Puri Creative Handicrafts Cooperative Society Ltd Devi Nanda.
Though the craft is prevalent in Raghurajpur, it is also practised in Puri, Nayakapatana, Balanga, Nimapara, Jatni, Bhubaneswar, Balipatna and Kalapathar. There are at least 500 Tala Patra Chitra artists in these areas apart from a small number of artists in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. Nanda said the society will also bring out a study report that would indicate the uniqueness of the craft.