Abstract:

A geographical indication (GI) is also a tool to protect traditional knowledge (TK), and can promote the trade of TK based GI products. North East India is a hub of TK and traditional alcoholic beverages which constitute a popular TK amongst most tribes. The process of making such beverages and the ingredients used are different in different tribes. Amongst the Dimasa tribe in Assam, their popular alcoholic beverage is a traditional rice wine named Judima. This paper is a case study of Judima as a potential GI and includes step by step procedure for GI registration, the hurdles which might pose in the process and how it could be overcome. The paper also examines the prospects of socio economic upliftment of rural communities as a result of GI registration of their bio-cultural products.