Rasogolla hits sweet spot, gets GI tag 

Rasogolla hits sweet spot, gets GI tag 

Context:

The Geographical Indication (GI) Registry and Intellectual Property India recently presented the Geographical Indication Tag status to Banglar Rasogolla of West Bengal and Mamallapuram stone sculptures of Tamil Nadu.

Introduction:

• West Bengal was involved in a lengthy battle with Odisha , which too had claimed Rasogolla as its invention.
• Odisha’s claim
• While West Bengal believes that the Rasogolla was invented in Calcutta by confectioner Nabin Chandra Das, Odisha says it was invented in the holy city of Puri in the 13th century.
• West Bengal in its application had provided proof of origin — historical records dating back to 1896.
• According to the documents submitted by West Bengal citing historical evidence, Rasogollas invented in the Nadia district of West Bengal are 60 years old (lower end time frame). Haradhan, a confectioner of village Phulia is named as the inventor.
• Mamallapuram stone sculptures of Tamil Nadu
• Tamil Nadu in its application stated that the sculptures from Mamallapuram were known to be carved in stone with characteristics of intricate designing chiselled finely, keeping with the spirit of the surrounding Pallava art and architecture.
• The description includes cave architecture, rock architecture, structural temples, open sculptures, relief sculptures and painting/portrait sculptures.

About Geographical Indication (GI) :

• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin
• The qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin
• GI tag is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regards to its special quality or reputation attributes.
• The status to the products marks its authenticity and ensures that registered authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name.
• It is covered as an element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. At international level, GI is governed by WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

Benefits of GI Status:

• Legal protection to the products
• Prevents unauthorised use of a GI tag products by others
• Helps consumers to get quality products of desired traits (iv) Promotes economic prosperity of producers of GI tag goods by enhancing their demands in international and national market.
• GIs are of utmost importance to the country as they are an integral part of India’s rich culture and collective intellectual heritage.
• Goods branded as GIs can be made indigenously by local communities independently and in a self-sustaining manner.
• It Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others
• It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.
• GIs can also promote rural development in a significant manner and could be fitted in as the most ideal intellectual property right to bolster a programme such as ‘Make in India’.
• A GI is supposed to convey to a consumer the assurance of a certain quality, reputation or other characteristics of the goods on which it is applied, which are essentially attributable to its geographical origin.