State to submit info on GI tag to Rasagola in Aug

Bhubaneswar: In its battle to prove that Rasagola originated in Odisha, the state government Wednesday said it will submit the additional information sought by geographical indication (GI) Registry by the first week of August.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of Rasagola Day, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Prafulla Samal said the state government, in February this year, submitted an application to the GI Registry-Chennai, seeking GI tag for Odisha made Rasagola.
June 22, the GI Registry asked the state government to submit additional information on state’s claim within one month. However, the state could not submit the required information on time and sought another month for it, Samal added.
Expressing his concern on the issue, the Minister said, “The case is never being delayed. Just like any other legal case in the court of law, the verdict isn’t so easily availed despite the applicant’s high expectation. Accordingly, GI authorities had asked us to submit the clarifications from time to time when we filed our application.”
Now the GI Registry has sought clarifications on 14 points, he pointed out, adding, “Though we have sought time till August 22, we will submit the compliances by first week of August.” Earlier, the state had filed application for ‘Odishara Rasagola’ (Rasagola of Odisha) but now we have changed it to ‘Odisha Rasagola’, he stated.
The state had a dispute with neighbouring West Bengal (WB) over the origin of the sweet dish and the war intensified after WB government received the GI status for ‘Banglar Rosogola’ last year.
Odisha has been claiming Rasagola has links with traditions and practices associated with Lord Jagannath. As per ‘Dandi Ramayana’, the dessert has been in existence in Odisha since 15-16th century.