Uttar Pradesh  CM inaugurates Gramashree handicraft expo in Lucknow

Lucknow, (thestates.news)| Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that One District One Product scheme was launched in Uttar Pradesh in the year 2018 to encourage traditional industries in which a unique product each from all 75 districts of the state was selected and marketed. The scheme gave a new direction and recognition on the global stage to the traditional industry.

Speaking after inaugurating the Handicraft Exhibition of Gramashree and Craft Roots at Safed Baradari in Kaiserbagh locality here, the CM said that though the exhibition might appear small, it is the cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Vocal for Local and Self-Reliant India. He said, “With the inspiration of Modi, the innovative One District One Product scheme was launched.

Yogi said that Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana is being run to encourage and train the artisans of the state under which they are being provided honorarium and tool kits. “As a result of this, the exports of UP, which is called a landlocked state, more than doubled within two to three years,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “Governor Anandiben Patel conducted many innovative experiments during the lockdown period following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic. She linked these experiments to the empowerment of women who were deprived of work. And when these women got the opportunity, they amply demonstrated their skills and proved that there is no dearth of potential in the state.”

Yogi said that the programme is being taken forward under the guidance of Governor Anandiben Patel. He said that the artisans associated with handicrafts are a source of inspiration as they are not only becoming self-reliant, but also providing employment to others. The CM said, “More than 40 lakh people came to the state during the Corona period. Providing employment to them was a big challenge for us. In such a situation, on the call of the government, 96 lakh MSME units of the state gave them work and proved in the time of crisis that nothing is impossible in UP.

Not only this, today the state’s ODOP scheme is linked to organisations like Amazon and Flipkart and is giving it a new identity.” Yogi said that Mahatma Gandhi gave the inspiring message of Gram Swaraj from the land of Gujarat and it is a matter of good fortune for UP that the Gramashree organisation was born in the state.

He said, “The organisation is taking forward Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Gram Swaraj by connecting handicrafts persons with technology to give them a new direction. It has given the platform of the exhibition to artisans from different states of the country to exchange ideas, reflecting the Vocal for Local vision of Prime Minister.”
 The CM said that other organisations should emulate Gramashree and come forward so that the whole world can know the skills of the artisans of the country.

He said that earlier during festivals, goods manufactured by China used to dominate the country’s market despite its poor quality. “So, we encouraged women self-help groups. In accordance with the sentiments of Narendra Modi, when they started working, the products of the state became famous not only within the country, but also abroad under the ODOP scheme,” the CM said.

Yogi pointed out that whenever PM Modi goes on a foreign tour, he gifts the products of some state of the country to the guests, which shows that there is immense potential in this field. He said that this type of exhibition gives an opportunity to artisans to exchange technology along with knowing one another’s skills and traditions.
Thanking the organisers of the exhibition, the Chief Minister said that through the exhibition, everyone is coming together to realise the vision of a self-reliant India. “After 500 years, Shri Ram Lalla is going to be seated at his holy birth place on January 22, in the dignified presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I congratulate all of you for this,” he added. Governor Anandiben Patel, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Minister Ashish Patel and Mayor Sushma Kharkwal among others participated in the programme. (UNI)