Two years after West Bengal earned the distinction of being the first Indian state to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its “rosogolla,” it is now the turn of the neghbouring state Odisha to get the same. Odisha has been embroiled in a bitter battle with West Bengal over the origin of ‘rosogolla’ since 2015. West Bengal finally secured the GI tag for 'Banglar Rosogolla' in 2017 causing heartburns in Odisha.
Chennai-based Registrar of Geographical Indications has now issued a certificate registering the sweetmeat as 'Odisha Rasagola' under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The certificate will be valid till February 22, 2028, official sources said. A GI tag recognises a product as distinctive to a particular locality or region.
The application for the GI tag for 'Odisha Rasagola' was moved by Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC), together with Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti (association of sweetmeat traders) in 2016.
Welcoming the development, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pradipta Naik said the tag should have been earned by the state long ago. "It got delayed due to negligence on the part of the state government," the BJP leader said. 'Rasagola' has been a part of Odisha’s centuries-old rituals performed for Lord Jagannath and found its mention in a 15th century Odia epic 'Dandi Ramayana'.