Local goes global: 500 ODOP artworks given in gifts to dignitaries

Lucknow: The gifts carried by chief minister Yogi Adityanath for dignitaries during his visit to Singapore and Japan had the stamp of the state's ‘One District, One Product' scheme.The CM gifted more than 500 works of traditional handicraft and art to people, making this a mega exercise to promote UP's tradition, culture and ‘vocal for local' vision.
"The CM presented more than 300 mandala art pieces to children. Foreign guests were amazed to see handmade creations. The ‘gulabi meenakari' of Varanasi attracted special attention," an official said.The gifts presented by the CM included glass idols of Lord Ram, Shiv, Radha-Krishna and Buddha from Firozabad; brass idols of Shiv and Buddha from Moradabad; meenakari-crafted figures of Buddha, peacock, model of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple prepared with ‘gulabi meenakari' from Varanasi; and wooden idols of Shiv and Radha-Krishna from Saharanpur.The official said that the effort would provide UP's artisans and craftspeople with a new identity in the global market and open new export opportunities. "The display of these products on the global stage will enhance brand value and provide support to the livelihoods of lakhs of artisans," he said.