Travel & shop: Buy local items from Raj stations

Jaipur: ‘One Station, One Product’, an initiative announced by the Union government during budget 2022-23, will start at over 300 railway stations across the state from June, said officials from the North Western Railway (NWR) on Friday.
The initiative was announced for a larger reach to local products from different regions, said officials.
In Rajasthan, the initiative will be properly rolled out from June at over 300 stations with products identified by the NWR.In the whole region under NWR, a total of 355 stations have been identified across Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur divisions. A few stations fall in parts of neighbouring states.
The NWR has identified 79 stations in Ajmer division, 104 in Bikaner division, 72 in Jaipur division and 100 in Jodhpur division.“We first started the initiative on a pilot basis at different stations in the four divisions. During that period, each product was displayed at the counters for 15 days. With this, we were able to understand what product is being preferred more by commuters and accordingly the final list has been prepared. Now, from June, we will start this initiative across the state,” said Captain Shashi Kiran, chief public relations officer of NWR.
The official said in Ajmer division, products made of rose like rose water, edibles made of rose petals were preferred more; in Jaipur division items made of Sanganeri print will be on display among other products. Products like clay pots, textile products, iron boxes, embroidery items, pickles, toys, leather footwear, spices, khadi items, Pichoi paintings, mehendi, organic soaps, marble products, artificial jewellery have been identified for the initiative.
“The items have been selected keeping in mind the ease of commuters while ensuring that local products get proper reach. Commuters are not always able to carry big or heavy items, so small items which can be given as gifts or souvenirs have been selected, then local edibles or handicraft from Rajasthan that are famous and have traditional importance have also been kept in the list. The aim is to give a better reach to these products,” added the official.