Odisha government proposes Cuttack’s ‘Dahibara Aloodum’ under ‘One District One Cuisine’ scheme

The Odisha Government has recommended Dahibara Aloodum, a popular culinary delicacy from Cuttack city, to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Union Government as Cuttack district’s representative cuisine under the “One District One Cuisine” scheme, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Gokulananda Mallick informed the Assembly in a written reply.

Responding to a query by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, the Minister said, “This step will help promote Dahibara Aloodum at both the national and international levels.”

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However, the popular dish is yet to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The Minister noted that an application for GI registration can be submitted, as per Section 11(1) of The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, by any association of persons, producers, or an organization or authority established by law that represents the interests of the producers of the concerned goods. Any association or group of producers connected with the product is eligible to apply for its GI registration, he stated.

There is no provision under the Act permitting the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department to directly apply for a GI tag for any product. However, it can facilitate any individual or organization in the GI application process. If an application for GI registration of Dahibara Aloodum is received from any association, individual, or stakeholder involved with the dish, the MSME Department, as the nodal agency, will assist the applicant in completing the registration process with the GI Registry in Chennai, he added.

Once the GI tag is granted, the dish can gain wider recognition across the country, enabling large-scale production and benefiting those associated with its preparation and trade, the Minister concluded.