Edited by Deepali Verma
The inauguration of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024’, conducted at Bharat Mandapam on January 4, New Delhi, was carried out by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Guest of Honour, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. As per the press release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the event dealt with the presentation of the National One District One Product (ODOP) Awards 2023 to the deserving winners.
Piyush Goyal during the inauguration emphasised on the government’s commitment to a better future for the 140 crore Bharatis under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had praised the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024’ for representing the whole-of-government approach that has been the hallmark of the government over the last decade. Goyal said, “When Bharat talks about economy, its ambition and target is never for small changes. The economy is expected to reach the USD 5 trillion target in a few years and will become the third largest GDP in the world by 2027. The achievement of this target is possible by 140 Crore Bharatiya citizens working as a team as per the Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal enunciated by the Prime Minister”.
Dr S Jaishankar, in length, talked about the potential of the ODOP initiative in driving growth in the tourism sector, subsequently contributing to employment generation. Stressing the importance of branding and product promotion, he stated that while making in Bharat is pivotal, it is equally crucial to enhance the product demand. The Minister further discussed the role of ODOP and Geographical Indicators (GI) as effective tools in promoting traditional Bharatiya products.
“ODOP showcased Bharat to the world at the various G20 events organised across the country during Bharat’s G20 Presidency, where the ODOP artisans, sellers and weavers got a lot of visibility at the global stage during the events”, said Jaishankar.
Jaishankar added, “The government mainly uses ODOP products for gifting to foreign delegates and this was widely done during the G20 events organised in Bharat. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are working in collaboration with different Bharatiya missions to boost the country’s outbound shipments”.
The event saw several renowned dignitaries, including the Secretary, of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Rajesh Kumar Singh; the Secretary of, the Ministry of Textiles, Rachna Shah; and the Chairman and Managing Director, of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, Pradeep Singh Kharola, as notified by the press release.
The hosts of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024’ were the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The aim of ODOP Awards is to recognize the significant efforts in promoting the ODOP Initiative, bringing together Districts, States, and Bharatiya Missions to celebrate their contributions, read the press release. The ceremony holds a celebration of Bharat’s journey towards self-reliance, celebrating its rich cultural heritage, diverse talents and innovative spirit.
This event was organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from January 3 to 10 and was divided into various zones that show Bharat’s technological advancements, economic developments and local products from different States and Union Territories. The ODOP Awards for this year received an enthusiastic response with close to 580 applications from 535 districts, 26 States/UTs and 19 Indian Missions Abroad. The overwhelming participation indicates a collective commitment towards promoting a competitive spirit and enhancing public service delivery quality.
There was a digital launch for the next edition of the ODOP Awards 2024 during the event. In order to encourage and recognise the outstanding contributions, a total of 24 Awards were distributed across three categories – Districts, States and Union Territories, and Indian Missions Abroad, read the press release.
The ceremony also provided a platform for discussion regarding sharing the best practices and strategies for the future of the ODOP initiative. The event brought together the governmental representatives at various levels while acknowledging their pivotal roles in this national effort towards ‘Vocal for Local.’
