The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative has catapulted Uttar Pradesh's traditional crafts onto global platforms, generating over 3  lakh jobs and driving export revenues to record highs.

Key Takeaways (मुख्य बिंदु)

  • ODOP has created over 3.16 lakh jobs
  • Export value rose from Rs 86,000 cr to Rs 1.84 lakh cr
  • 79 products received GI tags, strengthening global brand identity

The Uttar Pradesh government launched the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme in 2018 to identify a signature product from each district and make it competitive at national and international levels. By offering skill training, free toolkits, financial aid, branding assistance, and market access, the programme empowers small‑scale producers to showcase their wares on larger stages.

Background and the BIMARU Narrative

In the 1980s, demographer Ashish Bose coined the term "BIMARU" for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, highlighting lagging economic and social indicators. Yogi Adityanath’s administration has aimed to shed this label by turning the state into a manufacturing and export powerhouse, with ODOP as a strategic lever.

Impact Numbers

Official data shows that more than 1.46  lakh artisans have undergone training, over 20,000 entrepreneurs have directly benefited, and the scheme has generated employment for more than 3.16  lakh individuals. Exports have surged from Rs 86,000 crore in FY 2017‑18 to a record Rs 1.84 lakh crore in FY 2026‑27, with roughly half of the basket now consisting of ODOP‑linked handicrafts.

District‑Specific Products Going Global

From Agra’s leather and marble to Aligarh’s locks, Azamgarh’s black pottery, Ayodhya’s jaggery, Kannauj’s perfume, Varanasi’s silk saris, Moradabad’s metal crafts, and Saharanpur’s furniture, each product gains exposure through improved packaging, branding, e‑commerce platforms, and trade fairs. Seventy‑nine items have earned Geographical Indication (GI) tags, bolstering their identity in overseas markets.

Voices from the Field

Padma Shri awardee Dilshad Hussain of Moradabad notes that ODOP has expanded the brass industry’s reach, unlocking international demand. In Amroha, furniture artisan Jitendra Saini says inclusion of metal and wooden handicrafts doubled many artisans’ incomes by easing access to finance for machinery and raw materials. Exporter Firoz Ahmad credits better quality, packaging, and branding for strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s footprint in global markets.

Overall, the ODOP initiative is reshaping both the economic and social fabric of rural Uttar Pradesh, giving artisans confidence, market visibility, and a sustainable livelihood.