AP: Kondapalli toys get GI certificate

Vijayawada, Feb 12: The Kondapalli village, about 20 kms from here, has carved a niche for itself in the global market by bagging the Geographical Indicator (GI) for its traditional wooden toys from the patent office in Chennai on February 7.

Some 500 artisans from 116 families dependent on the craft now enjoy the privilege of being the exclusive makers of this toy, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said here yesterday.

He said the Lanco Institute of General Humanitarian Trust (LIGHT) and the CII's Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Centre had filed the application for GI certification for Kondapalli toys few years ago.

Mr Rajagopal said at present the toys were made at the artisans houses. A workshop is being constructed at a cost of Rs 14 lakh for the benefit of the toy makers.

He said each artisan used to earn Rs 2,000-3,000 earlier, while at present they are earning about Rs 10,000 by marketing products worth Rs ten lakh.

The registration would be valid for a period of ten years and could be renewed from time to time, he added.

UNI