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All India Locks Manufacturers criticize UP Govt over poor implementation of ODOP

Updated: Jun 17, 2019 08:11:25am
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Aligarh, June 17 (KNN) “Locks in Aligarh, brass in Moradabad, and bangles in Ferozabad were part of the supposed rebuild project of the lost traditional industries of Uttar Pradesh. I cannot speak for the others but as the President of All India Locks Manufacturers Association, there has been nothing but false promises by the government," said Zafar Alam, President, All India Locks Manufacturers Association.

“The lock industry has been neglected for decades now and I don’t think there will be deliverance this time either. We were told that there will be heavy investments on behalf of the ODOP Scheme. However, none of the manufacturers have been made beneficiary to the Scheme. The small-scale manufacturers have definitely suffered and will continue to suffer a lot under this government," he added.

To boost the dying traditional industries in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath had proposed the ODOP Scheme last year. Along with the help of Governor Ram Naik, the scheme was implemented in all the 75 districts of UP with the hope of a potential nationwide implementation. This Scheme solely focused on modernization and publicization of the traditional industries of every district of Uttar Pradesh with the idea of revitalizing the state itself.

The ODOP (One District, One Product) Scheme was set in motion as a wave of new hope for the impaired lock industry of Aligarh. The industry is a typically traditional one in the region and has been in a dire need of an upgrade. After decades of low productivity, many of the manufacturers have migrated to greener pastures in light of stagnation of the industry. This continued trend of emigration has led to a decline in the industry despite calls by several governments to revive the downtrodden state of the lock industry.

“We should learn from some developed countries how things made by hand can be highlighted through modern-day branding and marketing and help the nation in earning foreign investment, more employment and improving the image of the country. I have been told that through this ODOP scheme around 25 lakh people will get employment through a financial assistance of Rs 25,000 crore in five years. Small and medium enterprises are proving to be the backbone in the nation’s economy. This ODOP scheme will further strengthen the spine,” President Ram Nath Kovind had said during the launch of scheme.

However, according to the MSMEs in the lock industry, they have been a victim of the poor implementation of the ODOP Scheme.

"It would be a massive loss if the entire industry gets depleted in a couple of years because it associated an identity with the old city of Aligarh which added a heritage value to it," they opined. (KNN/ K)

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