About The Gulabi Meenakari Handicraft

Home » About The Gulabi Meenakari Handicraft

Context:

The Uttar Pradesh state government has decided to gift GI-tagged Gulabi meenakari handicrafts to the visiting delegates from G20 nations.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

Gulabi Meenakari is a rare and exquisite craft practiced in the lanes of Varanasi, near Gai Ghat, in India.
Varanasi is renowned for its exquisite Gulabi Meenakari handicraft, which showcases the skill and creativity of the artisans in the
Originating from Persia, this art form involves the coloring of metal surfaces by fusing different colors.
The art was brought to Varanasi during the Mughal era in the early 17th century by Persian enamellists.
The word “mina” comes from the Persian word “Minoo,” meaning “heaven,” referring to the azure color of the sky.
In Varanasi, Gulabi Meenakari is primarily practiced on jewelry and home decor items.
The craft utilizes simple tools such as salai (etching tool), kiln, metal palette, mortar and pestle, kalam (enamel application tool), brass dye, small scrubbing brush, forceps, and takala (needle-like tool for applying colors).

Ek Rang Khula Meena: Only gold outlines are exposed, and a single transparent color is used.
Panch Rangi Meena: Five colors – red, white, green, light blue, and dark blue – are employed.
Gulabi Meena: Pink is the dominant color in this form.

Geographical Indications of Goods indicate the country or place of origin of a product.
They assure consumers of the product’s quality and distinctiveness derived from its specific geographical locality.
GI tags are an essential component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and are protected under international agreements like the Paris Convention and TRIPS.

Geographical Indications registration in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
The registration and protection are administered by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The registration is valid for 10 years, and it can be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.

GI tags provide a unique identity and reputation to products based on their geographical origin.
The first product in India to receive a GI tag was Darjeeling tea.
Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags with 47 registered products, followed by Tamil Nadu with 39.

Any association, organization, or authority established by law can be a registered proprietor of a GI tag.
The registered proprietor’s name is entered in the Register of Geographical Indication for the applied product.
Protection and Enforcement:
Geographical Indications protect the interests of producers and prevent unauthorized use of the product’s name or origin.
Enforcement of GI rights helps maintain the quality and reputation of the products associated with their specific geographical regions.

-Source: Times of India