Namakkal soapstone artisans face raw material crunch despite GI tag

In Tamil Nadu, artisans who make special cookware from soapstone are having a hard time.

Even though their products got a special tag called GI, which means they are unique to that area, they can't find enough of the right kind of stone.

This stone is special because it holds heat well and keeps food healthy.

The artisans have been making these items for generations, but now the stone is running out.

The good stone is either deep underground or in places where digging is not allowed, like forests.

The government is trying to help by showing their products at exhibitions, but without more stone, the artisans can't make more items.

They say they need help to get the stone legally and sustainably, or their traditional craft might disappear.