Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Human Welfare Association (HWA) have joined hands to promote technology-enabled solutions for the authentication, traceability and sustainable development of India’s Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged crafts and products.
The collaboration is aimed at developing practical applications in digital authentication, product traceability, documentation and other technology-based interventions for GI-tagged products.
Technology to strengthen artisan livelihoods
The initiative seeks to help artisans and producer communities establish the authenticity of their products, enhance consumer confidence, protect cultural identity and access sustainable livelihood opportunities.
An MoU for the collaboration was signed by Dr Rajni Kant, General Secretary, Human Welfare Association, and Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (CSR), IIT Madras. The signing took place in the presence of Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and project coordinators Prof. M Manivannan and Prof. John Augustine.
IIT Madras Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering Prof. M Manivannan said technology could play an important role in empowering artisan communities.
“Artisans form India’s second-largest population; empowering them with technology can drive transformative impact. At IIT Madras, we are committed to advancing this vision of a Viksit Bharat by the use of technology,” Manivannan said.
Building a trust infrastructure for GI products
The partnership will explore technology solutions that enable consumers to verify the identity of artisans and the origin and authenticity of products.
IIT Madras Department of Computer Science and Engineering Prof. John Augustine said consumers value authenticity but often lack the means to verify it.
“Our goal is to build a shared trust infrastructure that lets anyone verify an artisan’s identity and a product’s origin, and thereby enable India to leapfrog on trust, and on the consumer engagement that follows from it,” Augustine said.
The solutions being explored will cover authentication, traceability and documentation, allowing artisans and producer groups to demonstrate the origin and authenticity of their products.
Artisan Empowerment Lab to support initiative
The initiative will be supported by the Artisan Empowerment Lab at IIT Madras, which is developing scalable technology-based approaches to address challenges faced by artisans, producer groups and other stakeholders across the GI ecosystem.
The collaboration will bring together researchers, artisans, farmers and producer communities, industry partners, government bodies and social-development organisations to develop practical models for preserving, recognising, authenticating and sustainably growing India’s craft and agricultural heritage.
HWA brings GI expertise and grassroots engagement
Human Welfare Association brings its experience of working with artisan communities and GI-tagged products to the initiative.
Human Welfare Association General Secretary Dr Rajni Kant, who is popularly known as the ‘GI Man of India’, said the initiative could support the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat campaigns by connecting local products with global markets.
“This project and its interventions will boost the Atmanirbhar Bharat (local-to-global) and Viksit Bharat campaigns at the international level. Millions of artisans, weavers, producers, farmers, and women will benefit in the long run once this project is scaled up nationally,” Kant said.
Kant has played a significant role in helping secure GI tags for traditional handicrafts and local artisan communities across India. His work has contributed to the recognition and protection of regional products, traditional knowledge and cultural identity.
Connecting traditional knowledge with technology
By combining HWA’s ground-level engagement with artisan communities and IIT Madras’ research and technology capabilities, the partnership aims to create technology-enabled pathways connecting traditional knowledge systems with contemporary applications.
The partners said the initiative would seek to generate social and economic value for producer communities while strengthening the recognition, authenticity and sustainable growth of India’s diverse craft and agricultural heritage.