New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh’s exclusive One District One Product (ODOP) items are making a splash at Dilli Haat where an exhibition is currently underway. Be it the chikankari of Lucknow, the sarees of Banaras and Azamgarh, or the sculptures made of shazar stone of Banda, there is a visible interest among visitors in them at the month-long exhibition, which will conclude on September 15.

Additional Chief Secretary Information and MSME, Navneet Sehgal, inspected the exhibition in New Delhi on Saturday. He also interacted with the artisans and shopkeepers and learned about their sales and facilities.

ACS Navneet Sehgal inspects the ‘Dilli Haat’ exhibition

Stating that the participants have been given return fares by the Government, Sahgal said, “Arrangements for accommodation and food for the artisans and shopkeepers participating in the exhibition have been made by the ODOP department. The participants have also been given return fares by the Government.”

The exhibition organised by the ODOP features 118 stalls showcasing various products. More than 10,000 people have visited the exhibition during the last 10 days whereas goods worth more than Rs 35 lakh have been sold.

Chikankari works, wooden toys & brass works main attractions

ODOP is a novel initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aimed at finding national and international markets for one specific item of each of the 75 districts of the state and preserve rich cultural and artistic heritages while helping artisans pursue their traditional craft and earn a decent income from it in order to sustain them.

Among the products, clothes with chikankari works on them are very popular among visitors from Delhi. The shops dealing in clothes with chikankari works are earning an average of Rs 40, 000 per day. Owing to the efforts of the State Government, the ODOP products of UP have hit the stands at Dilli Haat. The products have established themselves as special brands and are no longer struggling for an identity and the response of visitors to the Dilli Haat is a testimony to this.

Delhi Haat Exhibition to conclude on September 15

Among the most popular ODOP items of UP at the exhibition are Lucknow’s intricate and beautiful chikankari, which is most in demand; as well as fancy bedsheets of Hapur, wooden toys of Chitrakoot and brass items of Moradabad. There are many takers for shazar stones at the expo as well who buy them mainly for the purpose of decorating their houses.