Hyderabad: Amid controversy surrounding alleged adulteration in the iconic Tirupati laddu, artisans living near the foothills of Tirumala have been creating elaborate wooden statues of Lord Balaji and other deities for more than a century. These artisans are now working towards obtaining a geographical indication tag for their craft of Madhavamala wood carvings, known for their intricately crafted lifelike idols of gods and goddesses, as well as a variety of other wooden products including dolls, toys, doors, windows, pooja mandapams, pillars, and furniture. The Sri Balaji Wood Carvings Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Limited, representing 510 artisans from 309 families involved in making Madhavamala wood carvings, is set to apply for a GI tag with facilitation assistance from NABARD. This application will mark the 20th GI filing from Andhra Pradesh, spearheaded by GI practitioner Subhajit Saha in collaboration with NABARD to assist the artisans in securing the tag.