Telangana launches ‘GI on Wheels’ to showcase handicrafts on buses

Hyderabad

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on Friday launched their “GI on Wheels”, an initiative that seeks to transform public buses into mobile galleries displaying Geographical Indication (GI) recognised handicrafts of the State.

Aimed at taking Telangana’s cultural heritage closer to people, the programme was inaugurated by Governor Jishnu Dev Verma at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the initiative seeks to create awareness about GI-recognised art forms and strengthen the cultural identity of Telangana. Cultural awareness, he maintaned, was essential for societal development, adding that such programmes would encourage youth to take interest in traditional arts and accord respect to artisans.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar described the initiative as a reflection of the Governor’s vision, he said the government was committed to promoting, marketing and expanding GI products. He expressed confidence that the programme would generate employment opportunities for rural artisans and improve their economic conditions, while assuring support to scale it up through TGSRTC.

Six prominent GI handicrafts of Telangana, including Pochampally ikkat, Warangal carpets, Karimnagar silver filigree, Narayanpet sarees, Cherial scroll paintings, and Nirmal paintings, have been displayed on specially designed bus panels.

The bus designs were created by students of Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, who were felicitated by the Governor. Artists representing the six GI traditions and Subhajit Saha, who contributed to securing GI recognition, were also honoured.