The stalls set up under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ambitious scheme ‘One District-One Product’ (ODOP) in Prayagraj Mahakumbh have become the center of attraction. This information was given in an official statement released on Monday.
Stalls of GI-certified ODOP scheme products have been set up in a grand exhibition spread over 6,000 square metres, which is expected to generate a business of around Rs 35 crore for the event, the statement said.
The statement said that the Yogi government is continuously making efforts to make Uttar Pradesh, full of diversity, a brand in the country and the world. For this purpose, on the initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government implemented the “One District-One Product” (ODOP) scheme on the first foundation day of the state in the year 2018.
Today it is one of the most successful schemes of the government. Through this scheme, some special products of every district have got new recognition in the country and the world. With the help of the government and branding, the lives of thousands of artisans and their families have changed.
Due to these efforts of the government, the ‘craze’ of black salt rice of Siddharthnagar, terracotta products of Gorakhpur, banana and its products of Kushinagar, jaggery of Muzaffarnagar and other products made from it has increased rapidly. These are just a few examples, the ‘craze’ for ODOP in every district increased after this scheme.
Along with this, their demand also increased in the country and the world. Due to this success, the Uttar Pradesh government expanded this scheme and also included some more special products of the respective districts.
According to the statement, to further strengthen the identity of ‘Vocal for Local’, the Yogi Adityanath-led government planned to get GI (Geographical Indication) recognition to some special products of every district of the state.
Today, one or more special products of almost every district have got GI recognition.
‘One District One Product’ exhibition has been organized in about six thousand square meters in Mahakumbh. Since many products of ‘One District One Product’ have also received ‘Geographical Indication’, it also includes these products with unique identity.
For example, Kashi thandai, Lalpeda, red guava, world famous Banarasi saree and wooden toys are present here. Stalls of many products like terracotta from Gorakhpur, brass utensils from Mirzapur and Amla from Pratapgarh have been set up. All of them have got GI.
According to the MSME department, overall business of around Rs 35 crore is expected during Mahakumbh. Since most of the people associated with them are involved in handicrafts, most of the profit will also go to them.
The rest of the states of the country have also got a big platform in the form of Mahakumbh to showcase their colorful diversity, heritage, culture, folk traditions (food, costumes etc.). Most of the states of the country are showing it in the Rajya Mandapam of their respective states. In this, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Nagaland, Leh etc. are prominent.