The minister said that the price of sandals is 1.2 lakh rupees, very few people know where they actually come from. Artisans from Athani, Nipani, Chikkodi, Raibagh, and other parts of Belagavi, Bagalkot and Dharwad in Karnataka are making slippers from generations.
They traditionally sold them to nearby cities, especially Kolhapur, which eventually became the default market, and over time, the brand, he said. “We saw how the only GI tag on Maharashtra Kolhapuris was insisting on tag rights and through Lidkar (a subsidiary of the Government of Karnataka), we contested this election and fought to ensure that the artisans of the state were not left, ‘Kherge wrote X. The GI tag was written. GI tag was mixed every four districts in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The Rural Development Minister said, “It was never about a competition between the two states, but was about preserving our shared heritage and giving legal recognition to our artisans.” Kharge called for maximum investment in designs, branding, skilling and market access to artisan communities.
He said, “When international fashion houses adopt our designs, they are our artisans whose names, work and heritage should be shown – they should not be sidelined,” he said. While Prada has since accepted the designed Indian roots and indicated openness Artisan cooperationKharge insisted that the artisans are not just credits worth, they are worth better prices, comprehensive performance, and a chance to make permanent, reputed livelihood from their crafts.
