Odisha MPs seeks GI tag for 'Kendrapara Rasabali'

Bhubaneswar: Three Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs from Odisha- Subash Chandra Singh, Munna Khan and Mamata Mohanta on Sunday submitted a memorandum seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kendrapara Rasabali.

The BJD MPs met Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi, and demanded GI tag for 'Kendrapara Rasabali', a sweet dish claimed to have originated from the 400-year-old Baldevjew temple in the state's Kendrapara district.

"Kendrapara Rasaballi, which originated in Baladevjew Temple more than 400 years ago, is deep-fried patties of cheeses soaked in thickened milk. Several people in Kendrapara district depend on the sale of the sweet for their livelihood"said MPs in their memorandum.

However, due to improper marketing strategies and misuse of its name, it has failed to gain widespread recognition, they claimed.

The MPs asked Goyal to consider giving GI tag to the this sweet delicacy as it will help provide a distinct identity to Rasabali while building its reputation in the market nationally as well as at the international level.