GI certificate for Toda Embroidery handed over

The Geographical Indication (GI) certificate for unique Toda embroidery of hilly Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu has been handed over to a representative of the tribal community.
The GI accorded in March would insulate the embroidery from being duplicated besides ensuring uniform pricing for the products.
The certificate was handed over to a Toda representative by District Collector Archana Patnaik here yesterday, official sources said.
Nearly 400 Toda tribals are actively involved in the embroidery business and produce a wide range of products like shawl, table mat, wall hangings, bags and shopping bags and the certificate allowed the products to display the specific geographical location or origin, they said.

The ancient tribal art mainly use nature as models like flowers, animals, plants or building patterns as motifs and the State-run Poompuhar, Toda Nalavaazhvu Sangham and Key Stone Foundation, played major role in getting the GI Status, an international recognition, the sources said.