VARANASI, Jan. 5 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath was presented with a GI-tagged wooden volleyball memento carved out by Kashi craftsman Rajkumar at the inauguration of the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi, highlighting the city's rich craft heritage. The memento was made using Varanasi wooden lacquerware and toys, a Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged product. It was presented to the chief minister by Uttar Pradesh Volleyball Association president and deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, along with organising committee chairman and mayor Ashok Tiwari. Padma Shri awardee Dr Rajni Kant, popularly known as the 'GI Man of India', said preparations for the memento began as soon as the championship was announced. The 12-inch wooden volleyball, made from seasoned wood without joints, took a week to complete and involved intricate carving, turning and the use of natural colours. Rajkumar, a third-generation artisan from Khojwa in Varanasi and a state awardee, said the memento's presentation was a moment of pride for GI artisans. Dr Rajni Kant said Uttar Pradesh currently has 79 GI-tagged products, including 32 from the Kashi region, with the sector generating an annual turnover of about Rs.1 lakh crore and providing livelihoods to nearly 10 million people, many of them women. htc...