Mathura peda, Thakur ji's attire: How Yogi is taking UP's local products global

The Chief Minister said his government launched the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme to give recognition to Uttar Pradesh's MSMEs and local products and connect them with wider markets.UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during Panchayat AajTak event in Mathura on Thursday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday spoke about the state’s development model, MSME sector and historical and cultural heritage at the Panchayat Aaj Tak event in Mathura, highlighting his government’s efforts to take local products to global markets.Yogi said his government launched the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme to give recognition to Uttar Pradesh’s MSMEs and local products and connect them with wider markets.He cited products such as Firozabad glass, Moradabad brass, Aligarh hardware, Lucknow chikankari, Meerut sports goods, Saharanpur woodcraft, Bhadohi carpets, Varanasi silk sarees, Gorakhpur terracotta and Siddharthnagar’s black rice.Yogi said a survey initially identified distinctive products in five districts, following which officials were directed to identify such products across the state. The exercise eventually led to one signature product being identified for each of Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts. 'MATHURA PEDA SELECTED UNDER ONE DISTRICT, ONE CUISINE'Yogi said Thakur ji’s attire made in Mathura had been included under the ODOP scheme."I feel happy seeing that the attire made here is now getting recognition not only in the country but across the world," he said. He said the government was now also working on a One District, One Cuisine initiative, under which Mathura peda had been selected for the district.Yogi recalled meeting women from self-help groups involved in making Thakur ji’s attire at an exhibition in Mathura. He said he asked them about their earnings and businesses."Some women told me that they had earned Rs 1 crore, while some said their group had a turnover of Rs 10 crore," he said."Could anyone have imagined this before 2017? Today, all this is possible in Uttar Pradesh," Yogi added.'GOVERNMENT OPENED DOORS TO MARKETS FOR ARTISANS'The chief minister said the government had worked to provide markets to local artisans and entrepreneurs and had offered tax relief to support their businesses."When the government is sensitive, it does not take long to turn its artisans into entrepreneurs," he said.Yogi said the government had opened market opportunities for local products, improved connectivity to enterprises, ensured electricity supply and connected artisans with technology, packaging and design."The result today is that the One District One Product initiative is being heard about across the world," he said.Yogi also claimed that Uttar Pradesh recorded exports worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore in 2025-26, stressing that he was referring to global exports and that the figure came from the state’s MSME sector alone.YOGI HIGHLIGHTS RELIGIOUS HERITAGEYogi also highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s religious and cultural heritage, naming major pilgrimage centres such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan and Baldev.He said the state also has several important sites associated with Buddhist and Jain traditions.Among the Buddhist sites he mentioned were Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar and Sankisa, which are associated with different stages of Lord Buddha’s life.Yogi said Kapilvastu was where Buddha spent his childhood, while he delivered his first sermon at Sarnath. He also said Buddha spent the highest number of Chaturmas in Shravasti and attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar.He further said Uttar Pradesh had a strong connection with Jainism, with several of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras associated with the state.'UP PLAYED MAJOR ROLE IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE'Yogi said Uttar Pradesh’s historical significance extended beyond religious heritage and that the state had also played a major role in India’s freedom struggle.Referring to the Revolt of 1857, he said Mangal Pandey, who was born in Ballia, helped ignite the uprising at Barrackpore.He said the struggle later spread under the leadership of Nana Sahib in Kanpur, Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi and Dhan Singh Kotwal in Meerut.- EndsPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 19:47 IST