In Hyderabad, amid controversy surrounding allegations of adulteration regarding the popular Tirupati laddu, artisans at the foothills of Tirumala are seeking to obtain a geographical indication tag for their skillfully crafted Madhavamala wood carvings. For more than a century, these artisans have been using their expertise to create intricate wooden statues of Lord Balaji and various other deities. The Madhavamala wood carvings are renowned for their detailed lifelike representations of gods and goddesses, as well as other items like dolls, toys, house decorations, and furniture. The Sri Balaji Wood Carvings Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Limited, consisting of 510 artisans from 309 families, is planning to submit the application for the GI tag with assistance from NABARD. This initiative will mark the 20th GI application from Andhra Pradesh, with Subhajit Saha supporting the artisans in the application process alongside NABARD.