Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that One District One Products (ODOP) from all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh should be graded and postage stamps should be released on them to get the products global recognition.
Addressing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) mega loan distribution programme of Rs 51,000 crore organised at Lok Bhawan, the CM said that every countryman is presently happy to see the progress of UP, while the world is surprised because before 2017 there was an atmosphere of despair, frustration and anarchy in the state.
He said, “UP is heading towards becoming the largest economy in the country with the highest growth rate and economic development rate.”
Emphasising the importance of teamwork, Yogi said that when people work collectively, the desired results are achieved. “We have entered the year 2024. In these past seven years, the state has jumped from its position of sixth-seventh economy to become the second-largest economy in the country today,” he said.
During the event, he distributed the first instalment for the construction of ‘Pledge Parks’ in Mathura, Amroha, Sitapur and Meerut under the PLEDGE scheme. Additionally, he inaugurated three Common Facility Centers in Saharanpur, Moradabad, and Sambhal under the ODOP scheme. He also handed over the approval letter to the CFC team of Kaushambi.
The CM also distributed cheques and tool kits to a dozen beneficiaries of ODOP and Vishwakarma Shram Samman schemes. Under the Mission Shakti, he also handed over e-rickshaw keys to women.
He said that law and order has improved remarkably in the state, making every individual, including women, daughters, businessmen and investors feel safe. “This is also reflected in UP emerging as the top destination for investments in the country,” he said.
Yogi said that the state has received investment proposals of Rs 40 lakh crores in GIS-23, which will directly contribute in generating employment for more than 1 crore 10 lakh youth. “UP is the first state to actively support the Vocal for Local campaign initiated by the central government,” he said.
Highlighting the contribution of various schemes, he mentioned that the MSME sector has given a new identity to UP. “The ODOP scheme has empowered MSME units providing a new direction to traditional entrepreneurs who used to migrate for lack of opportunities in the past. The scheme has made the state an export hub, with exports increasing almost three times,” he said.
The CM said that the ODOP products should not be confined to coffee table books, adding that postage stamps should be released for the product of each district. “Efforts should be made for this because it will provide us global recognition. Every district’s product should also be graded so that information about good products can be conveyed. Combining it with packaging and technology will get the products global recognition,” he said.
He said that UP is the first state to introduce the ODOP, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana and PLEDGE Scheme, pointing out that the schemes have led to significant growth in the MSME units in the state as it boasts of having 96 lakh units.
Yogi urged the bankers to provide substantial loans to small capital holders for less risks of loss of capital, adding that it will also boost the investors’ business and bankers’ confidence in small capital holders, thereby leading to prosperity in the state.
He said, “The result of the foresighted thinking of bankers and the government is that the state, which had a CD ratio of 43 to 44 percent, has now increased to 56 to 57 percent. It should be our goal to increase it to 60 percent in this financial year and 65 percent in the next financial year,” he said.
The CM said that cheques were distributed during the program to women and men under the ODOP scheme who wanted to work in different sectors. “Therefore, we must live up to their expectations. Appropriate platforms should be provided for their training so that happiness comes into the lives of every individual in society,” he said.
Minister Rakesh Sachan, Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, IIDC Manoj Kumar Singh and Additional Chief Secretary of MSME Amit Mohan Prasad were present on the occasion.
