Eightytwo Weavers Co-operative Societies in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode districts have been certified as authorised dealers of Kovai Kora cotton, which has been given the Geographical Indication by the GI Registry.
“This is one of the major achievements as not too may societies in the country have been certified as authorised dealers of a product that has got GI registration,” said P. Sanjai Gandhi, president, Intellectual Property Rights Attorney Association, here on Tuesday.
He said that Kovai Kora cotton is a blend of silk and cotton and Kora another product that is found more in the Sirumugai area. People belonging to the Devanga community are involved mostly in weaving Kovai Kora cotton saris and they are the pioneers also in making the product.
Eightytwo Weavers Co-operative Societies in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode applied for the GI registration for Kovai Kora cotton saris and they have now been authorised to sell these saris.
Mr. Sanjai Gandhi said that applications had been sent to the GI Registry for getting the GI registration for ‘Thiruvaiyaru’ Asoka halwa, ‘Thoothukudi’ Macaroon, ‘Manapparai’ murukku and ‘Kovilpatti’ Kadalai Mittai.
Asoka halwa is a type of sweet desert prominent in Tamil Nadu, especially in the district of Thanjavur.
Almost 75 years ago, Ramaiyer, a resident of Thiruvaiyaru, invented this sweet.
‘Thoothukudi’ Macaroon is a special sweet item or confectionary made of eggs, cashew nuts, sugar etc. The unique features are also attributable to the place of Tuticorin. ‘Manapparai’ murukku is an ideal south Indian travel snack and has a long tradition that originated from the railway station in 1920s. It was Mani Iyer who introduced the Manapparai murukku to train passengers.
