New Delhi: One District, One Product (OPOD) scheme launched by Yogi Adityanath government has struck the right chord with people, this Diwali.
Over 35 countries participated in the virtual fair globally and more than 57,000 people showed interest in purchasing these products.
‘Mati Kala’ turned out to be a super hit as deities Ganesh and Lakshmi, earthern diyas and other products were sold for about 50 lakh rupees in the 10-day-long Mati Art Fair.
Due to the encouragement in the form of training, advanced tool kit, pug mill, modern furnace, electric spinning wheel, spray machine, etc. provided by the government (Mati Kala Board), the skilled hands brought the soil to life in the form of Lakshmi, Ganesh, designer lamps and other products.
PM Modi’s appeal for Vocal for Local and CM Yogi’s consistent instructions to promote ODOP has yielded heartening results.
35 countries participated in virtual ODOP fair
A virtual fair for ODOP products was organized for the first time in any state of the country. It had 572 stalls of products from all the districts. 35 countries participated in it and 57000 people showed interest in purchasing the products. Apart from Bhadohi’s carpet, chikankari, brass, silk, leather and wood carved works were asking the most.
Ceramic products boomed in Diwali
This time there was a spurt of clay products on Deepawali in the state. The 10-day Mati Kala Mela was organized for the first time by the Mati Kala Board in the premises of Khadi Bhavan (Dalibagh), Lucknow, in which earthen Lakshmi, Ganesh, diyas and other products worth around Rs 40 to 50 lakh were sold.
According to the earthen traders of Gorakhpur, more than one crore clay products have been sold there. Naturally, the same happened in other metros, cities and towns.
Sculptors say the government’s initiative made a big difference
Sculptor Krishna Kumar says the Matikala Board initiative has acted as a big catalyst. It has made a lot of difference and if this continuity continues, next Diwali will see a huge difference, he added while pointing out that a big condition would be that the artists get the dye of POP (Plaster of Paris) on time as per their demand. Producing clay products is a year-round process.
CM Yogi constituted the Mati Arts Board
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed the Matikala Board for the first time in the state in the interest of artisans and sculptors making clay products. The board helps in making the market competitive in price and quality by making the soil easily available from the nearby ponds.
It also provides training for well-known sculptors and NIFD, models of diyas and Lakshmi-Ganesha idols according to size and demand, and providing the best molds accordingly.
More work will be done on quality and branding: Sehgal
More work will be done on quality and branding: SehgalAdditional Chief Secretary MSME Dr Navneet Sehgal informed that the branding of these products has taken place due to the Virtual Fair and ODI fair of ODOP products and that every class connected with them. More work will be done on quality improvement and branding, he said.
