- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Handicraft Exhibition of Gramashree and Craft Roots in Safed Baradari
- Artisans are a source of inspiration; they are becoming self-reliant and even offering employment to others: CM
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Handicraft Exhibition of Gramashree and Craft Roots at Safed Baradari in Kaiserbagh locality here on Saturday and said that though the exhibition might appear small, it is the cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Self-Reliant India’ vision.
“With the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the innovative 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. This gave a new direction and recognition on the global stage to the traditional industry”, CM Yogi remarked.
There is no dearth of potential in Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 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 toolkits.
“As a result of this, the exports of Uttar Pradesh, which is called a landlocked state, more than doubled within two to three years. 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”, he pointed out
CM Yogi added that the programme is being taken forward under the guidance of Governor Anandiben Patel. He remarked further 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.
“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 Uttar Pradesh. Not only this, today the state’s ODOP scheme is linked to organisations like Amazon and Flipkart and is giving it a new identity.
Handicraft exhibitions are helping realise the vision of self-reliant India
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Father of the Nation 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.
“The organisation is taking forward Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Gram Swaraj concept of Mahatma Gandhi 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 Narendra Modi”, he stated.
CM Yogi 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 added 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 Prime Minister 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 Chief Miniter further pointed out that whenever Prime Minister Narendra 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 added that this type of exhibition gives an opportunity to artisans to exchange technology along with knowing one another’s skills and traditions. It also helps in connecting with the supply chain as per the market requirement and demand, he stated.
Thanking the organisers of the exhibition, CM Yogi said that through the exhibition, everyone is coming together to realize the vision of a self-reliant India.
“After 500 years, Lord Shri Ram Lalla is going to be seated at his holy birthplace on January 22, in the dignified presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I congratulate all of you for this”, he concluded.
Governor Anandiben Patel, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Minister Ashish Patle and Mayor Sushma Kharkwal among others participated in the programme.
