Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha announced that two revered items from the State have been awarded the esteemed Geographical Indication (GI) tag. These distinguished products are the Matabari Pera, a dairy-based delicacy traditionally served as prasad at the Tripurasundari temple in Gomati district, and the Pachra, a handwoven cloth cherished by the State’s Indigenous communities.
In a social media post, the CM extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Matabari Mahila Cluster Level Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity Limited from Chandrapur in Udaipur and the Dewanbari Mahila Cluster Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity Limited from Killa for achieving this significant milestone.
“I wish the Self-Help Groups for their commendable efforts in putting the State on the global map,” he added.
The Matabari Mahila Cluster Level Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity Limited and the Dewanbari Mahila Cluster Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity Limited had filed applications for the GI tag for Matabari Pera and Pachra, respectively, in March of the previous year.
Notably, the number of traditional weavers in Tripura has been dwindling over the years. While the 1921 census reported 34,356 tribal families and 34,485 loin-looms in the State, the 1955-56 Industrial Survey Report documented only 15,000 weavers. Experts anticipate that the GI tag will revitalise this declining craft and provide a much-needed boost to Tripura’s traditional weaving heritage.
This recent recognition follows the GI tag conferred on Tripura’s iconic queen pineapple, along with 13 other products from the Northeast, in a significant nod to the region’s rich cultural and agricultural diversity.
