GI tag for seven products from Odisha
Context:
Seven products from Odisha secure the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, showcasing their uniqueness and cultural significance.
Relevance:
GS – 02 (Government Policies & Interventions)
Highlights:
- Diverse Range of Products: The recognized products include Similipal Kai chutney made with red weaver ants, embroidered Kapdaganda shawl, Lanjia Saura Painting, Koraput Kala Jeera Rice, Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal, Odisha Khajuri Guda (jaggery), and Dhenkanal Magji (sweet made from buffalo milk cheese).
- Cultural Significance: The Kapdaganda shawl, woven and embroidered by the Dongria Kondh tribe, reflects the rich tribal heritage. Lanjia Saura Painting, a form of exterior mural, belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, showcasing gratitude to deities and forefathers.
- Traditional Culinary Delights: Unique culinary items like Similipal Kai chutney, made with red weaver ants, and Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal, known for its taste and quick cooking time, highlight the diverse and traditional food offerings from the region.
- Natural Sweeteners and Sweets: Odisha Khajuri Guda, a natural sweetener extracted from date palm trees, and Dhenkanal Magji, a sweet made from buffalo milk cheese, add to the array of distinct products, emphasizing the region’s agricultural and culinary diversity.
Geographical Indication (GI):
- Geographical Indication (GI) serves as a marker identifying goods with distinctive qualities originating from specific geographical areas.
- The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in India facilitates the registration and enhanced protection of such indications. Governed by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), GI is recognized as an element of intellectual property, aligned with the Paris Convention’s stipulations under Articles 1 (2) and 10.
- Primarily applicable to agricultural, natural, or manufactured products, including handicrafts and industrial goods, a GI tag is valid for ten years, extendable upon renewal. This designation prevents the sale of similar items under the same name, offering legal protection against unauthorized use. The GI tag not only fosters product exports but also assures consumers of product authenticity.
- The registration process involves filing an application, preliminary scrutiny, examination, show cause notice, publication in the geographical indications journal, opposition to registration, and eventual registration. Any association, producers’ group, organization, or legally established authority can apply, provided they represent the interests of the producers.
- Renowned products with GI tags include Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints, Lucknow Zardozi, Kashmir Saffron, and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.
