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05 Jul 2022 Geographical Indication of Kai Chutney of Odisha

Posted at 09:37h in Daily current-affairs by khyati khare 0 Comments

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Scientific Kai Chutney has been submitted for Geographical Indication (GI) registry in Odisha.
The GI tag standard will help in developing a structured hygiene protocol for widespread use of kai chutney. The GI label enhances the prestige and value of local products and supports local businesses.
Odisha got GI tag for Odisha Rasgulla in the year 2019.

Kai (Red Weaver Ant) ants, scientifically called Ocophila smaragdina, are found in abundance in Mayurbhanj throughout the year. They build nests from the leaves of the host trees.
Nests are strong enough to withstand wind and are impervious to water.
Moss nests are usually oval in shape and range from a small folded leaf to a large nest consisting of several leaves that exceed half a meter in length.
There are three categories of members in its family – workers, main workers and queens.
Workers and key workers are mostly orange in colour.
They feed on small insects and other invertebrates, their prey mainly being beetles, flies and hymenopterans.
Kais is a bio-control agent. They are aggressive and prey on most arthropods that enter their territory.
Due to their predatory habit, CAS are recognized as biological control agents in tropical crops as they are able to protect different crops against many different pests. Thus they are indirectly used as an alternative to chemical insecticides.

Kai Chutney is prepared from Weaver Ants and is popular amongst tribal people mostly in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
If necessary, the leafy nests of ants are plucked from their host trees and collected in a bucket of water before the leaves and debris are sorted and separated.

It helps to get rid of flu, common cold, whooping cough, increases appetite and improves eyesight naturally.
Tribal healers also prepare medicated oil, which is used as baby oil and used externally to cure arthritis, ringworm and other skin diseases.
It is the only panacea for the tribes.

GI is an indicator used to identify goods with special characteristics originating from a certain geographical area.
The ‘Geographical Indications of Goods’ (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide better protection and registration of Geographical Indications relating to goods in India.
The Act is administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks who is the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
Geographical Indication Registration Office is located in Chennai.
Registration of Geographical Indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for an additional period of 10 years.
It is also part of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization.
Recent examples: Judima Wine Rice (Assam), Tirur Vetila (Kerala), Dindigul Lock and Kandangi Sari (Tamil Nadu), Odisha etc.

Once granted Geographical Indication status, no other manufacturer can misuse its name to market similar products. It also facilitates the customers about the authenticity of that product.
Geographical Indication of a product prevents unauthorized use of other Registered Geographical Indications which promotes export of Indian Geographical Indications by providing legal protection and also enables to obtain legal protection in other WTO member countries.