Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: THE One District One Product (ODOP), an ambitious initiative of the Uttar Pradesh Government, has given new recognition to cities and towns by harnessing their inherent potential, thereby establishing a distinct identity of their own.
The scheme, launched in 2018, has gone a long way in unlocking myriad opportunities for the residents, and also making them a hub of economic activity. The success of the ODOP model clearly reflects the state’s export figures. In 2017, Uttar Pradesh’s total exports stood at Rs 88,000 crore, of which ODOP products accounted for Rs 58,000 crore.
By 2024, total exports had risen to Rs 1.86 lakh crore, with ODOP’s share increasing to Rs 93,000 crore. This significant growth stands as strong evidence of the sustained institutional support extended to the ODOP ecosystem. The district-based product strategy has strengthened exports at the grassroots level, enabling even small producers to integrate into global supply chains.
As the ODOP’s core focus is on establishing a distinct identity for each district, all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh have seen traditional craft, industry, or any indigenous product taking shape and getting launched into global markets with adequate government assistance. Products such as Moradabad’s brassware, Banaras’s handloom weaving, Firozabad’s glassware, Kannauj’s perfumes, and Bhadohi’s carpets have gained renewed global recognition through this focused approach.
This has also addressed the longstanding challenge of regional imbalance in industrial development. Earlier, economic growth was concentrated in a few urban centres, but post-ODOP, smaller districts and towns have emerged as hubs of economic activity. This expansion has increased local employment opportunities and significantly curbed migration.