NIFT to register UP crafts under GI Act

Besides, the Institute will design an insignia for each of these crafts and turn them into brands for better commercial value and marketability.

NIFT Registrar R K Sharma told Business Standard that the survey and documentation process had already been completed and reports prepared.

"We have completed the documentation for all the major crafts of UP, such as chikan work of Lucknow, Banarasi silk work of Varanasi, brassware of Moradabad and stone carving of Agra," he said.

The survey was done by the first-year students of the institute as a part of their project. They visited the geographical clusters for these crafts and met the artisans and other stake holders to document the history of these arts and present status.

The next step will be to select two of these famous crafts after thorough discussion and brainstorming, which needs to be protected and patented.

"Later, we would submit a report to both the state and the central governments for final registration