Artisans making iconic Kolhapuri chappals should not be sidelined: Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru (PTI): Following a controversy over Italian luxury brand Prada's use of footwear closely resembling Kolhapuri chappals, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge emphasised that the names, work, and legacy of the state's artisans who craft these iconic chappals should be recognised, not sidelined.
Taking a dig at the brand, he said that Prada is selling what are essentially Kolhapuri chappals for Rs 1.2 lakh a pair.
Taking to 'X' on Sunday, he said that few people know that a large number of the artisans who make these iconic chappals actually live in Karnataka's Athani, Nippani, Chikkodi, Raibag, and other parts of Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Dharwad.
"They've been making these chappals for generations, selling them in nearby towns, especially Kolhapur, which became the default market and over time, the brand," he said.
Kharge recalled how, when he was the Social Welfare Minister, they saw Maharashtra pushing for sole GI tag rights over Kolhapuris.
"Through Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd (LIDKAR), a state-owned establishment that sells leather products, we contested this and fought to ensure Karnataka's artisans were not left out. I'm proud to say we succeeded. The GI tag was finally granted jointly to four districts each in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This was never about a contest between the two states but about preserving our shared heritage and giving our artisans the legal recognition they deserve," he said.
The Minister expressed that this Prada episode is a reminder that the GI tag recognition alone isn't enough and stressed the importance of Cultural entrepreneurship.
"We need to invest in skilling, branding, design innovation, and global market access for these artisans. They don't just deserve credit, they deserve better prices, wider exposure, and the chance to build lasting, dignified livelihoods from their craft," he said.
When international fashion houses adopt our designs, the names, work, and legacy of our artisans should be showcased, not sidelined, said Priyank Kharge.
"The GI tag only gives them legal rights. It's now our responsibility to give them global platforms," he added.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
