GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) TAGS OF MEGHALAYA

Meghalaya, also known as “Scotland of the East” (during the British period), is a state situated on the northeast region of India bordered by Assam in the north and east, and Bangladesh in the south and west. Literally meant as “abode of clouds”, Meghalaya is regarded as one of the most picturesque states in the country. It is a home to two national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries and offers many adventure tourism opportunities like mounteering, rock climbing, hiking and trekking, water sports, etc. Meghalaya is bagged with 2 Geographical Indication (GI) Tags, the latest being Memong Narang. However, there are two other products, namely, Larnai Clay Pottery and Bamboo Shang Trop which were rejected from being given GI Tags.

The applications for Larnai Clay Pottery (click here to access documents) and Bamboo Shang Trop (click here to access documents) were rejected by the Geographical Indication Registry of Chennai in 2019. They are both handicraft products and their applications for GI Tags were filed by Regional Director (NER) on 16^th September, 2013. In both cases, it was observed that the applicant failed to prove the contents of the application and no supporting documents were produced by him for the queries raised in the examination reports. Besides, no historical data was provided by the applicant to establish the reputation of the products as reputation becomes a basis for a product for granting a geographical indication tag.

Application Details of ‘Larnai Clay Pottery’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Details of ‘Bamboo Shang Trop’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Memong Narang is an agricultural product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) on 29^th August, 2013, and the product was certified on 13^th April, 2015. Application Details of ‘Memong Narang’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

‘Memong Narang’ (meaning ‘Ghost Citrus’) is a citrus fruit belonging to the ‘Rutaceae’ family and the ‘Aurantiodeae’ subfamily. Citrus trees are evergreen trees that bear fruits of different forms and sizes (from round to oblong) which are full of fragrance, flavor, and juice. A section of these fruits allows identifying different layers:

• A rough, robust and bright color (from yellow to orange) skin or rind, known as epicarp or flavedo, which covers the fruit and protects it from damage. Its glands contain the essential oils that give the fruit its typical citrus fragrance.
• A white, thick and spongy mesocarp or albedo, which together with the epicarp forms the pericarp or peel of the fruit.
• The internal part that makes the pulp. It is divided into individual segments or juice sacs (with or without seeds, according to varieties) by a thick radial film or endocarp. This part is rich in soluble sugars, significant amounts of Vitamin C, pectin, fibers, different organic acids and potassium salt, which give the fruit its characteristic citrine flavor.

Memong Narang is well protected in the Citrus Gene Sanctuary, but its regeneration is observed to be very slow and is therefore considered to be an endangered species. They have several beneficial health and nutritive properties. They are rich in Vitamin C or ascorbic acid and folic acid, as well as a good source of fiber. They are fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free. In addition, they contain potassium, calcium, folate, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorous, magnesium, and copper. These fruit species are not edible and are mostly used as medicine to cure a number of deadly diseases namely, viral infection, kidney stone and many stomach diseases. The fruit is used to treat Jaundice and stomach conditions in humans and animals, and it is used to treat Smallpox. It is also applied to dead bodies to remove their ghosts. They may help to reduce the risk of heart diseases, some types of cancer and are also helpful in reducing the risk of pregnant women to have children with birth diseases.

GI Tags of Meghalaya are-

Agricultural Products:

1. Khasi Mandarin [here]
2. Memong Narang [here]