What are Etikoppaka Toys?

About Etikoppaka Toys:

• These are traditional toys made by artisans of Etikoppaka village located on the banks of Varaha River in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
• These toys are made out of wood and are coloured with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots and leaves. 
• The artisans mainly use the wood from trees known as 'ankudu' (Wrightia Tinctoria) that is soft in nature.
• These toys have no sharp edges. They are rounded on all sides.
• Etikoppaka toys received Geographical Indication (GI) tag IN 2017.

Why are they called lacquer toys? 

• While making the Etikoppaka toys, lac, a colourless resinous secretion of numerous insects, is used. 
• The already prepared vegetable dyes are further mixed to the lac, during the process of oxidation. 
• After this process, the end product obtained is rich and colored lacquer. 
• The lac dye is used for decorating the Etikoppaka toys, which are exported all over the world.
• Thus, the toys are also called lacquer toys because of the application of lacquer coating.

What is the Geographical Indication (GI) tag?

• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
• Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• At the International level, GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). 
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.

 

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Q1) What are Padma awards?

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).

Source: Padma award is an honour for the Etikoppaka toy craft, says C.V. Raju