CHENNAI
The Federation of Chettinad Athangudi Heritage Flooring Tiles Producer Affiliation together with the MSME – Know-how Growth Heart and Course of and Product Growth Heart have filed an utility searching for Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the well-known handmade Athangudi tiles.
Athangudi is a village situated within the outskirts of Sivaganga district, which is often known as the Chettinad of Tamil Nadu. The artwork of constructing these tiles has been practiced on this area for the final 500 years. And at this time, these tiles are in demand each in home and worldwide markets. These eco-friendly tiles are used to embellish the interiors (flooring, partitions) of homes.
Based on particulars offered by IPR legal professional P. Sanjai Gandhi who filed this utility on behalf of the 2 candidates, it was the Nagarathar Chettiars of Chettinad who initially launched these on this area. “The Nagarathar Chettiars of Chettinad travelled to totally different South-East Asian in addition to Western nations and their eyes picked on all the gorgeous components which they noticed throughout their journey, which they introduced again to their residence and built-in these components as part of ornamental to their mansions,” as per particulars furnished within the submitting.
Mr. Gandhi mentioned that with at this time’s era focusing extra on antiques and outdated styled properties there’s a nice demand for these tiles. “If this product will get a GI tag it will additionally profit a number of artisans who’re making this on the Athangudi area,” he added.
So how are these tiles made? A clear piece of glass is clasped to a clear steel body that acts as a bounding field to realize the required measurement of the tile. To print the chosen sample or motif, a stencil is positioned over the glass plate throughout the body. The body is positioned on a glass plate of the identical measurement because the tile. Subsequent, a cement combination is ready. The colored mixes are pre-prepared by mixing finely-sieved sand and white cement with the respective colored oxides in water, to a thick consistency. They’re then poured into the totally different sections of the stencil with ladles.
Alternatively, the colored mixes are poured onto the glass plate straight and freehand swirls or floral designs are created with sticks. A dry powder of sand and cement is unfold over the combination as quickly because the stencil is faraway from the body. The bounding steel body is then eliminated and the tiles are dried for a day earlier than immersing them in water for 8-12 days. They’re then dried underneath the solar and through this course of the glass plate detaches itself naturally from the tile. And at last, a stone is rubbed gently towards the perimeters to acquire a easy end.
A GI tag is an indication used on merchandise which have a particular geographical origin and possess qualities or a repute by advantage of their geographical affiliation. The proprietor of the GI tag has unique rights over the product. Additionally it perhaps famous {that a} GI utility could possibly be rejected underneath numerous parameters.
