UP: Common Facility Centres to support artisans under ODOP scheme

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government, to further facilitate artisans involved in indigenous and specialised crafts in various districts, will set up Common Facility Centres (CFCs) under One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
The centres will provide every facility to artisans under one roof thus helping them in manufacturing and even marketing their products at best possible levels.
Establishing the centres will cost government about Rs 92 crore.
At least 90% funds to set up these centres will be given by the state and rest will be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Setting up one CFC may cost maximum Rs 15 crore.
CFC will provide facilities like raw material, testing lab, processing, bar coding, packaging, labelling, logistics, design development centres all at one place to artisans and producers.
One District One Product (ODOP) is chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath's dream project. It aims to make artisans involved in traditional, indigenous and specialised crafts in different districts of the state self reliant.
As well as promote the handicraft and specialised products that are produced only in UP and nowhere else. Under it, every district will have at least one CFC.
Sources in the government shared that approval has been given for setting up of 14 such centres, each in Lucknow, Azamgarh, Unnao, Siddharthnagar, Sambhal, Ambedkarnagar, Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Aligarh and Sitapur.
Moradabad will have two CFCs. Sources said that 17 more such centres are in the pipeline.
While black pottery has been identified as the flagship product of Azamgarh, it is metal craft for Moradabad. Chikankari is Lucknow's speciality while ancient and nutritious Kala Namak rice is of Siddharthnagar.
Sitapur is known for its carpets and both Unnao and Bareilly for zari zaroori.
Aligarh is famous for locks and Banarsi silk sari makes Varanasi world famous.
Wood craft of Saharanpur, leather goods of Agra and textile of Ambedkarnagar along with horn-bone craft of Sambhal will be promoted through CFCs.
Horn-bone craft is unique in the sense that it uses remains of dead animals than the live ones. It could be a nature friendly replacement for ivory.