GI Tag For Odisha’s ‘Chhenapoda’ Gains Momentum, Memorandum Submitted To Governor

Bhubaneswar: The demand for GI status for Odisha’s famous sweet product ‘Chhenapoda’ (baked cheese) has gained momentum with a socio-cultural association taking up the matter with the Governor.

The Nayagarh Bikasha Mancha on Tuesday met Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and submitted a memorandum mentioning their 10 demands including Geographical Index (GI) certification for Chhenapoda.

The members of the Mancha sought the Governor’s intervention for expediting the process of GI tag for Chhenapoda and creating a cluster for the people who have been preparing it for several generations. They also demanded technical training and financial incentives for those engaged in making the famous sweet item and more research on the food product.

Pointing out that the birthplace of the state’s famous astronomer Pathani Samanta in Khandapada was in a dilapidated condition, they demanded it to be converted into a national heritage monument.

Their other demands included improvement of the birthplace of poet Jadumani Mahapatra and pioneer of library movement in Odisha Dasarathi Pattanaik (Dasia Aja), establishment of the proposed ‘Mung’ processing industry in Nayagarh and construction of a wide road from Bhubaneswar to Kontilo, the original shrine of Jagannath culture.

The Mancha also demanded boating facilities for tourists on Mahanadi river and a Pantha Nivas at Kantilo. “Nayagarh sugar factory should be reactivated and sugarcane farmers given financial and technical support. The ancient Buddhist monastery Jogijogiani’ in Khandapada block should be improved and natural streams in different parts of the district connected with widened road and placed in tourist map of Odisha. India’s largest hot spring at Tarabalo of Bhapur block should be improved. A life size statue of Samanta Chandrasekhara should be installed in Nayagarh town,” the memorandum read.

Convenor of the Mancha Subhransu Panda, co-convenor Subrata Kumar Nayak and members Satyendu Shekhar Mishra, Rajesh Kumar Parida and Aftab Hossen were among those who met the Governor.