The recently concluded investors’ summit Lucknow focussed on two points. First the announcement by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of high value MoUs which the government managed to sign on day one of the summit and two launching the policy of one district, one product by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the inaugural session, two sentences of our Prime Minister — new policy ‘one district one product’ of the Yogi government could prove to be the game changer for the state, and Uttar Pradesh has values and virtues, but it also needs value addition, and words of CM Adityanath Yogi — It is a matter of pride for the state that till now we have signed 1045 MoUs worth `4.28 lakh crore, which is equivalent to the amount of this year’s budgetary layout, aroused my interest and its on this I would focus. Undoubtedly ‘One district One Product’ scheme would create over 20 lakh jobs in the state and would help in stemming the migration of the unemployed youth from the state. The idea of State government to help the district-specific industries and products gain national and international recognition through branding, marketing support and easy and economic financial help. Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises have a huge contribution in the UP’s economy. After agriculture, MSME sector has the highest employment opportunities. State is uniquely famous for product-specific traditional MSME industrial hubs across 75 districts, including Varanasi (Banarasi silk saris), Bhadohi (carpets), Lucknow (chikan), Kanpur (tannery industry and leather goods), Agra (leather footwear), Aligarh (locks), Moradabad (brassware), Meerut (sports goods) and Saharanpur (wooden products).

The migration of the unemployed youth from the state, promotion, development and employment in traditional crafts and small industries, creation of job within the state as per talent and capabilities of youth, skill development and training at source, maintenance of rich culture heritage are the challenges of “One district one product” to be taken care. Having got the promise of investments, itsstrongly recommended that Uttar Pradesh Government publish a toolkit;a practical “how-to” guide on investment and provide information and guidance on the process. From developing a strategy to identifying, planning, managing and existing requirement of state and community development projects. It should provide information around impact, sustainability, partnership, social facilitation, capacity building and should encourage stakeholders to actively engage in the process and make the most informed decisions, to develop customise sustainable projects as per badly needed required changes in different areas.