A Study on Revitalizing Aspirational Districts Through the ODOP Initiative: Economic, Skill Development and Cultural Preservation in Shrawasti, U.P.

Abstract

This research explores the impact of ODOP as a policy intervention in view of economic enabler and socio cultural sustainer in the context of Shrawasti which is one of the aspirational district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The study examines how Odop skill development and cultural diplomacy of the program help in the socio-economic transformation of the target groups. This shows how the ODOP enhances the craft business by coupling the conventional handicrafts with the contemporary vocational training, thereby promoting income generating activities whilst promoting the cultural heritage. Accordingly, the presented research findings prove that such an integrated approach complies with India’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 because it combines the country’s economic growth with the enhancement of the local culture. The study also shows that ODOP can enable local people to enhance their skills as well develop cultural values that support sustainable development in the long run. However the study recommends a closer look at the impact of infrastructure, access to hi-tech inputs and networks as they may offer other possibilities of economic enfranchisement. Therefore, the findings of this study stress the significance of the pursuit of intervention such as ODOP to advance India’s developmental goals and indicate the significance of sustaining the investment in both the economic and cultural development of the country in realizing the vision of economical and autonomously developed India.