Bharuch receives first GI Tagged product – Sujani Weaving of Bharuch

Project ROSHANI by the District Administration, Bharuch resulted for the GI tag for Sujani Weaving of Bharuch

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag is granted to “Bharuch Sujani Weaving” by the “Geographical Indication Registry office” of the ministry of commerce and industry.

Sujani is the first product from the Bharuch district to receive the GI tag. This is the result of the dedicated efforts by the various stakeholders from artisans to government officials under Project ROSHANI.

Project ROSHANI (Revival Of Sujani Handloom & Neoteric Inclusion of artisans) was initiated by the District Administration, Bharuch under the visionary leadership of Tushar Sumera (IAS), Collector, Bharuch.

Project ROSHANI is CSR initiative aiming to revive the languishing art of Sajani Weaving art of Bharuch with strategic multiple intervention such as formation of Cooperative Society of weaver artisans, development of Training cum production center, formalization of the handloom business, product standardization, women empowerment through training, preparing next young generation as Sujani weaver etc.

As a part of project ROSHANI, application for GI tag was filed by the “Shree Bharuch District Sujani Production and Sales Cooperative Society” with District Administration playing a key facilitator for the documentation. DIC office, Commissioner Cottage office (HSY) and many stakeholders also shared efforts for the documentation and paper work for Sujani weaving.

ROSHANI Project was started on 12th March, 2023 with the inauguration of “Rewa Sujani Center” at the heart of Bharuch near Furja on Heritage Building. Very first prototype handloom was developed after 40 long years under project ROSHANI. 

This Rewa Sujani Center is playing common facilitation cum training facility for all who wants to learn about this exclusive and mind blowing art of Sujani weaving.

Due to the efforts by team ROSHANI, artisan Muzakkir Sujaniwala was awarded the “State Award for Languishing Art” by the Government of Gujarat. Artisans started gaining confidence for the revival of this art. New generation along with non Sujaniwala family also showed interest and started learning this weaving art which provided them livelihood opportunity as well.

Sujani Artisan also participated in various National and International Exhibitions such as G 20 conferences at Mahatma Mandir - Gandhinagar, National Handloom Day Celebration at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Bharat Tex, New Delhi and many more.

Sujani was also included in the ODOP List (One District, One Product) to give wider exposure of national and international markets with the support of Government.

Various workshops and documentation activities were also organized such as Product Development and Design Sensitization by NID, Craft documentation by NIFT, Gandhinagar, Hastkala Setu Yojana and many more.

Team ROSHANI included J B Dave, Deputy Commissioner of industries, Bharuch, Niravkumar Sanchaniya (Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow), Rizwana Talkin Zamindar and her team, Muzakkir Sujaniwala and all Sujaniwala Family members.