India’s One District One Product (ODOP) scheme is emerging as a game-changer for artisans, craft clusters, and local economies. By identifying and promoting a flagship product for each district, the scheme ensures resources are focused improving manufacturing standards, marketing reach, and livelihood opportunities across the country.

Under ODOP, distinctive crafts like glass toys from Firozabad, wooden toys from Varanasi, traditional textiles, handlooms and GI-tagged products receive special branding, subsidies, training and infrastructure support. These interventions are helping in ₹35 crore trade turnovers in fairs (like Mahakumbh) and boosting exports.

The scheme also collaborates with other rural livelihood programs. Examples include the development of ODOP Walls that showcase regional craftsmanship, and linking Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM to give products ground visibility.

Design support, digital platforms, and better market linkages are helping transform not just incomes, but craft identities: artisans are able to innovate while preserving tradition. The changes aren’t uniform: some districts have moved faster, others face challenges like supply chain inefficiencies, quality consistency, or scaling up. But overall, ODOP is proving that with focused investment, local crafts can move from informal, marginalized production to viable business models and cultural pride.