Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha government has sought a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Odisha brass and bell metal products at the Registrar of Geographical Indication, Chennai. The GI application for Odisha brass and bell metal has been filed with the Registrar of Geographical Indication, Chennai by Utkalika under the directorate of handicrafts and handlooms. This is the third GI for the handicrafts sector of Odisha in the last one year, the official said of Odisha textiles and handicrafts department.
According to the reports, the GI application has been filed with documents covering different types of production processes and products developed across the state using brass and scrap material as the main raw material. Multiple clusters across 28 districts in the state have been covered under the application, he said.
Further, the official informed that GI applications have already been filed before the Registrar of Geographical Indication on silver filigree (Chandi Tarakasi) of Cuttack and Odisha golden grass, which are pending with the Registry for award of GI.
The Odisha government is taking proactive steps for GI registration of products under handicrafts sector not only to protect the uniqueness of handicraft products & unauthorised use, but also, to protect the interest of artisans & consumers.
