Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 23: Dahibara Aloodum, a mouthwatering dish famous in Kataka, us yet to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag as no one has come forward to submit a detail application in this regard.
This was informed by State MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallik in Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a query by Congress legislator Sofia Firdous, Mallik said to get GI tag under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, an application for registration of a Geographical Indication (GI) can be made by an association of persons or producers, any organisation or authority established by or under any law representing the interests of the producers of the concerned goods.
The State MSME Department cannot directly file an application for GI registration. However, the Department can facilitate and provide necessary support to any eligible association of persons/producers or organisation coming forward for filing a GI application for Kataka’s “Dahibara Aloodum”, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, he informed.
Till now, no specific proposal/application for GI registration of “Dahibara Aloodum” has been received from any association or organisation by the MSME Department, the Minister said.
However, if any eligible association of persons/producers or organisation comes forward with such an application, the state MSME Department will facilitate the process of GI registration as per the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, he assured.
Further, he noted, various schemes of the MSME Department for supporting food processing industries and micro enterprises are available for eligible entrepreneurs, which may be availed for development and promotion of such enterprises.
As regards the One District One Cuisine (ODOC) initiative, “Dahibara Aloodum” has been proposed to DPIT, Government of India, as the cuisine of Kataka District under the One District One Cuisine initiative.
The initiative is intended to provide wider recognition and promote the cuisine at the national and international levels, he added.
Notably, the OD0C initiative is being implemented under the guidance of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The Minister further said Kataka’s famous “Dahibara Aloodum” has been promoted under the initiatives of Startup Odisha
In this regard, M/s THQ Food and Beverages, operating under the brand name “Dahibara Express”, has undertaken various initiatives to promote and popularize Kataka’s “Dahibara Aloodum” at the national and international levels.
The Startup was recognised by Startup Odisha on 22.03.2023 and has received financial assistance of Rs2.40 lakh under the Monthly Allowance Grant, along with other support, as per the applicable provisions of the Startup Odisha Policy, 2016.
Further, Dahibara Aloodum entrepreneurs who apply through the Startup Odisha online portal and meet the prescribed eligibility criteria may also be considered for recognition and eligible support under the applicable provisions of the Startup Odisha Policy.
These initiatives aim to promote the unique culinary identity of Kataka and provide wider market reach and recognition to “Dahibara Aloodum”, he added.
