Uttar Pradesh Launches 'One District, One Cuisine' Scheme with Rs 75 Crore Budget Allocation
The Uttar Pradesh government has made a significant move to celebrate its rich culinary diversity by allocating Rs 75 crore in the state budget for the ambitious 'One District, One Cuisine' scheme. This initiative aims to promote the state's varied food heritage while simultaneously boosting local livelihoods and enhancing tourism experiences across districts.
Promoting Signature Dishes and Supporting Food Entrepreneurs
The core objective of the scheme is to identify and brand a signature dish from each district of Uttar Pradesh. Officials from the MSME department have outlined that the program will focus on several key areas:
- Providing support to traditional cooks and local food entrepreneurs
- Developing culinary clusters around popular regional cuisines
- Standardizing food quality and improving packaging standards
- Enhancing marketing efforts for district-specific dishes
This comprehensive approach is expected to create substantial opportunities for small vendors, self-help groups, and home-grown food businesses, helping them scale their operations and reach wider markets.
Integrating Food with Tourism Development
The culinary initiative is strategically designed to complement Uttar Pradesh's growing focus on cultural and spiritual tourism. By offering visitors a distinct gastronomic experience in every district, the government aims to create unique food trails that can be integrated with existing tourism circuits.
Officials believe this integration will not only preserve the state's rich and varied food traditions but also generate substantial employment opportunities and strengthen district-level economies through increased tourist engagement with local cuisine.
Scheme Launch and Exhibition
The 'One District, One Cuisine' scheme was formally launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the UP Diwas celebrations. The occasion featured an exhibition showcasing popular cuisines from various districts across the state, providing a visual and culinary preview of what the scheme aims to promote on a larger scale.
Broader MSME Allocation and Employment Initiatives
Beyond the culinary scheme, Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated a strong commitment to small business development through its budget allocations. The state has raised its MSME outlay by 19%, allocating a total of Rs 3,822 crore across various schemes aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises.
Key Industrial and Employment Proposals
Experts indicate that these allocations signal a determined push for small business growth and job creation. Several major initiatives have been proposed:
- Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Employment and Industrial Zone: With Rs 575 crore earmarked, this project aims to develop industrial clusters and boost local employment opportunities across the state.
- Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan: A substantial allocation of Rs 1,000 crore has been proposed to promote youth-led enterprises, with an ambitious target of establishing one lakh micro-enterprises annually.
- Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarojgar Yojana: An additional Rs 225 crore has been allocated to encourage self-employment among young people, providing them with resources and support to start their own ventures.
Officials have expressed confidence that these measures will provide fresh momentum to grassroots industries and further expand Uttar Pradesh's industrial base, creating a more robust economic ecosystem that benefits both traditional sectors like food heritage and modern entrepreneurial ventures.
