Jaderi namakatti

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About Jaderi namakatti:

These are clay sticks that are white in colour, usually available in finger-like shape with a smooth texture.
Jaderi is a small village in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu.
There are around 120 families in Cheyyar taluk whose primary occupation has been the making of namakatti for more than hundreds of years now.
Namakatti is made up of the rich deposit of hydrous silicate minerals that form fine grain particles of clay.
The clay is processed and shaped in a finger-like structure.
The production of namakatti depends on the climatic condition as it needs a lot of sunlight to dry.
It is used to adorn the foreheads of idols, men, and temple elephants as well as traditionally to treat stretch marks caused by childbirth.

Key facts about Geographical Indication

It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

Q1) What are Silicate minerals?

Silicate minerals are a class of minerals that make up the vast majority of the Earth’s crust. They are characterized by their basic building block, the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (SiO4), which consists of a silicon atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. These tetrahedra can link together in various ways to form a wide range of silicate mineral structures.

Source: Watch | How is GI-tagged Jaderi namakatti made in Tamil Nadu?