The MP mentioned ‘chhena gaja’ and ‘dahi bara aloodum’ of Cuttack, a popular street delicacy deeply associated with the city’s identity. He also highlighted ‘sara papudi’, a traditional rural sweet, and ‘sarsatia’, a rare delicacy prepared using resin, a forest produce , stressing the need to preserve their authentic preparation methods.Ulaka further pitched for GI status for ‘chhena jhilli’ from Nimapada, ‘pakhala bhata’—considered the soul food of Odisha—and Koraput Coffee, which is organically grown by tribal farmers in the eastern ghats and has gained global recognition.Emphasising that these products represent the legacy of communities rather than merely food items, the MP said GI recognition would help protect authenticity, prevent imitation, boost livelihoods, and strengthen Odisha’s cultural standing at the national level. He also sought govt support for local producer groups and tribal cooperatives to facilitate the GI registration process.
