GI tagged Kapda Gunda shawls & Idital paintings in Rayagada can boost local economy   

Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta

associate editor

Rayagada, March 4: Kapadaganda, the Dongariya Kondh Embroidered Shawl from Rayagada district, has been officially recognised with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 

On Jan 3, 2024 applications were registered by Chennai-based GI Registry, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the national authority for GI registrations. 

It was registered by Niyamgiri Dongoria Kandho Weavers Association & the Advisor-Cum-Director and Special Secretary to Govt, Directorate of SCSTRTI.

 Odisha’s ST/SC Department played a crucial role in making this happen! This beautiful traditional craft represents the rich cultural heritage of the Niyamgiri Dongoria Kandho community, showcasing their skilled craftsmanship. The women of Dongaria Kondh particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) living in Niyamgiri Hills of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts craft embroidery shawls, which are gifted to guests as a mark of respect and affection. Similarly, the paintings of Lanjia Saura (Idital) from Gunupur have officially earned GI status. The art form belongs to the ‘Lanjia Saura’ or ‘Lanjia Savara/Sabara’ tribe, one of the PVTGs of Odisha’s Rayagada district. The paintings were originally in the form of exterior murals in tribal homes. The pattern was white paintings over a crimson maroon background.

GI stands for branded quality products, so people’s place of trust in GI products is very strong, resulting in the confidence of the customers of that product. Being recognized as a GI product, it is supposed to help the local small, medium and cottage industry entrepreneurs a lot to expand their business. Even GI products help small local traders to sustain their business. Business is supposed to expand at local scale through GI products.

As a result, many entrepreneurs are created in the local area. These products are also expected to expand from the local market to the international market. GI products are to enrich regional economies. As a result, apart from eliminating unemployment, there is a huge opportunity for employment.
 
All this is yet to be realized in case of both the PVTG communities.

 There is ample scope of mass production; but unfortunately, for example, Kapadaguda shawls are hardly available in the local market. Even if available, the cost goes upto Rs.8000 per piece though the danagaria kandha tribal women as prime producers get Rs.2000 per piece, leaving the rest to middlemen and brokers. In spite of several skill training programmes by the govt, mass production is a day dream.

There is only a single weaver left, who weaves the base using the yarn brought from Brahmapur. After natural dyeing, tribal women weave it with coloured threads with their needles.

This is a cumbersome process, which takes almost three months to weave a single shawl. Research Development(R&D) is needed at yarn procurement source, place of base material production and at producer sites.

 This seems lacking so also diversification of the products. Fusion of Kapda Gunda can be done with DWCRA material produced at Jhigidi. Help of designers from NID-Ahmedabad & IDC-IIT-Mumbai can be mobillised. Similarly, Idital simply has remain has a wall painting.

Cottage industries can be developed by manufacturing printing blocks, which can be used to hand or screen print files, sarees, banyans, hankies, etc.  
 
Kapada Gunda & Idital will protect the interests of local PVTGs as a result of which the region gets its economic benefits, better branding of the region or otherwise it will lead to extinction of these GI tagged products. If promoted it will conserve history, heritage, culture of these PVTGs & create an opportunity to highlight global culture.

Development of tourism industry in the region can be multiplied by focusing on these GI products, which also can be exported harnessing FDI.

Fortunately, GOI budget-2026 has good provision for promoting cottage industries. Odisha Development Vision for Vikasit Odisha-2036 & Vikasit Bharat-2047 envisions to promote such art and crafts in curtailing regional imbalance.