GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This chapter tackles the tortured relationship between Geographical Indications (GI) and rural development in India. It targets the way in which GIs can foster a sustainable development of the rural economy. The chapter discusses the different aspects of the privatization and commercialization of the law in regards to GI protection and their effects on rural livelihood, traditional knowledge and equitable distributive mechanisms of resources. It will also show the weaknesses and strengths of applying GI status to enable rural population and promote inclusive development citing examples of its effectiveness in other locations in respect to or in relation to the situation in India and the policies applied. The said debate will also clearly examine the difference between the GI certification, typically a collaborative effort, and single product certifications and its potential to trigger consumer interest to usual Indian products (Prathap and C.C., 2020). The chapter will also examine how events could strengthen and boost the territory identity by facilitating the local heritage information that had been offered by the GIs leading to better local decision making of social and economic proceedings (Dragan et al., 2024). It will also evaluate the historical development of the indigenous land use in India and its place in the constitution with specific reference to the examination activities of the commerce of exploring and farming. Interest in such historical dimensions is significant because policies of rural development are usually not paid due vigilance as to the ability of villages to properly plan their spaces so as to limit their autonomy of self-sufficiency yet they are the leading providers of staple foods (Tarlani and Sirajuddin, 2020). The neglect of a spatial planning priority may result in an economic disparity; it is necessary to determine one or more strategies that could encompass the building of environmental and green economies in those areas (Vaz et al., 2021). According to this chapter, GIS can be a very effective counteraction to such imbalances, and it could lead to a regional financial prosperity, which helps sustain the sense of place that attributes uniqueness to goods and services. The same applies to India since a stronger rural development system, namely Gram Panchayat level is necessary to overcome the dynamic economy and sustainability in this country (Pathak and Deshkar, 2023). It will also take into account the untapped potential of far-flung communities and economic prospects generated out of the land and suggest policy changes to tap into their unique opportunities to diversify the region (Sangha et al., 2020). The chapter will assess the various rural developments planning activities undertaken in India such as MGNREGA and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme and whether they are aligned with GI protection to support the overall rural development (Prabakaran et al., 2021). These attempts, in addition to the export of traditional approaches to Native construction along with the line of Sustainable Development Goals, could be a comprehensive solution to rural economy stimulation and support of dialectic knowledge (Mathur, 2024).