UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Briefly give an account of the ODOP Programme. Mention its objectives. Show how far it has been successful in transforming the State’s economy. Conclude with the idea of Vocal for Local.

Introduction

One District One Product (ODOP) is a flagship programme of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It was launched in 2018, with an aim to preserve, develop and promote local arts, crafts, and traditional skills of communities. ODOP is aimed at creating product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts of the State that will promote traditional industries that are synonymous with the respective districts of the state.

The programme is aimed at adding to the income and local employment, thus preventing out-migration. Under this programme, one unique product from each district of the state is selected and gaps/challenges across all aspects of its product ecosystem, including value chain gaps and infrastructure gaps are addressed.

Body

The objectives of the One District One Product Programme are as follows:

• Preservation and development of local crafts/skills and promotion of art.
• Increase in incomes and local employment (resulting in a decline in migration for employment).
• Improvement in product quality and skill development.
• Transforming the products in an artistic way (through packaging, branding).
• To connect the production with tourism (live demo and sales outlet – gifts and souvenir).
• To resolve the issues of economic differences and regional imbalance.
• To take the concept of ODOP to the national and international level after successful implementation at the State level.

ODOP has been successful in bringing transformative change in the State’s economy in the following manner:

• MSME sector plays an important role in the economy of the state and is significant contributor to capital investment, production and employment. In terms of numbers of MSME units (about 46 lakh units, 8%), Uttar Pradesh stands first in the country.
• Uttar Pradesh has been a leading state in the export of handicrafts, processed food, engineering goods, carpet, readymade garments and leather products, manufactured in these MSMEs.
• The export of handicrafts from Uttar Pradesh contributes 44% to total export of handicrafts from the country. Similarly, this contribution stands at a significant 39% in carpets and 26% in leather and leather products.
• Almost each district in the State has one or more unique products – be it in the handicrafts, handlooms or agriculture/horticulture produce or small enterprises, with distinct identity at national and international levels. For example, the silk sarees of Varanasi, the handicraft items of brass from Moradabad, the flute of Pilibhit, and Kala Namak rice from Siddhartha Nagar etc. MSMEs are best placed to manufacture and export these products at district level.
• Government data shows that the total value of exports of ODOP products from the state increased from ₹58,000 crores in FY17-18 to ₹96,000 crores in FY21-22.
• The percentage contribution of ODOP products is estimated to be approximately 62 per cent in Uttar Pradesh’s overall exports.
• 5 lakh youth have established their ventures under ODOP by receiving loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand Up, and Startup India.
• Since the launch of the ODOP scheme in 2018, the economy of the state has got a boost while products, some of which were on the verge of extinction, have got a fresh lease of life.
• Some of the popular products of certain districts including Kala Namak rice of Siddharthanagar, Terracotta of Gorakhpur, and Chikankari of Lucknow have got the much-needed impetus under the ODOP scheme.
• The government has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Amazon India, Flipkart, and eBay.com to promote the sale of traditional products. According to these agreements, all artisans, weavers, and craftsmen associated with the ODOP scheme would be connected to the international market through these online market platforms.

Conclusion

The success of the ODOP in Uttar Pradesh has inspired several other states to adopt similar initiatives for district-level revival of local crafts and products. It promotes the idea of Vocal for Local.