GI Tag demand for Chhenapoda, memorandum submitted to Governor

Bhubaneswar: With demand for Geographical Index (GI) tag to Chhennapoda, members of Nayagarh Bikasha Mancha met the Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal at Raj Bhavan today and presented a memorandum.

A memorandum of 10 points which includes the demand for expediting the process of Geographical Index (GI) certification of Chhenapoda and creating a cluster for those who have been making chhennapoda for generations. They also demanded technical training and financial incentives to be provided to Chhenapoda artisans.

Highlighting about the dilapidated condition of the birth place of the eminent scholar and astronomer Pathani Samanta in Khandapada, they also demanded it to be converted into a national heritage monument.

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 the state capital to Kontilo, the origin shrine of Jagannath culture.

Nayagarh Bikasha Mancha also demanded for boating facilities for tourists on the Mahanadi river at Kantilo, Pantha Nivas should be made functional there. Nayagarh sugar factory should be reactivated and sugarcane farmers should be 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 should be connected with widened road and placed in tourist map of Odisha. India’s largest Hot Spring at Tarabalo of Bhapur Block should be improved.

They also demanded to install a full-sized statue of Samanta Chandrasekhara in the middle of the Nayagarh city.

Subhransu Panda, covenor of Nayagarh Bikasha Mancha, said, “For the past 2 years, Nayagarh Bikasha Mancha is celebrating Chhenapoda Dibasa in state capital and demanding GI status for Chhenapoda. In this series, today we met the Governor and gave a 10-point demand letter for the development of the district.”

The members also presented a special Chhenapoda brought from Nayagarh to Governor.