Lok Sabha Question No. 4061 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Sandstone under ODOP
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Bharat Singh Kushwah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4061.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026.

## SANDSTONE UNDER ODOP

## 4061.  SHRI BHARAT SINGH KUSHWAH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact in Gwalior district, under the 'One District  One  Product'  (ODOP)  initiative,  the  selected  product  Sandstone (sandstone tiles/products) sector is largely dependent on traditional methods of stone carving and polishing, resulting in limited use of modern technology and lack of effective branding and marketing at the national/international level;
- (b) if so, the concrete steps taken so far to address these shortcomings;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide modern machinery, advanced technology, skill training and financial assistance, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  future  action  plan  proposed  to  provide  competitive  advantage  to  these products in the national and global markets?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) to (d): One  District  One  Product'  (ODOP)  is  an  initiative  by  the  Department  for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with the aim to select, brand, and promote at least one product from each district of the country for enabling holistic  growth  across  all  regions.  The  selection  of  ODOP  products  is undertaken by the respective State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. Under the ODOP initiative, Madhya Pradesh has identified stone products (sandstone) from Gwalior district.

The State Government has informed that several steps have been taken to promote  modernization,  technology  adoption  and  improved  branding  and market  access.  A  dedicated  Industrial  Park  for  stone  processing  has  been developed  by  MPIDC  (MP  Industrial  Development  Corporation)  in  Gwalior, where modern machinery and advanced technology such as modern polishing machines,  wire  calibration  machines,  CNC  numerical  machines  and  other modern tools are used by units operating in the park. In addition, more than 10

establishments  are  exporting  through  merchant  exporters  and  are  in  the process of becoming direct exporters through various handholding and export promotion programs organized by the ODOP Cell of Madhya Pradesh. Further, ODOP Cell has been regularly organizing promotional and capacity-building initiatives  to  strengthen  technology  adoption,  branding  and  export  linkages. Technical guidance, market linkages and promotional support are also being extended through relevant institutions and government initiatives.

The State Government provides assistance for modern machinery, technology upgradation, skill development and export promotion under policies such as MP Industrial Promotion Policy (MPIPP) 2025, MSME Development Policy and the Madhya  Pradesh  Export  Promotion  Policy,  in the form of support for infrastructure  development,  green  industrialization,  skill  development,  IPR, export freight subsidy, export assistance and support for first-time exporters. Export  promotion  initiatives  such  as  trade  fairs,  buyer-seller  meets,  export awareness programmes and linkages with export promotion councils are being facilitated  by  the  ODOP  Cell  to  expand  domestic  and  international  market access. The proposed Madhya Pradesh ODOP & GI Promotion Policy aims to strengthen  district  products  through  support  for  skill  development,  improved product design, quality, standardisation, branding, packaging and GI protection,  thereby  enhancing  their  competitiveness  in  national  and  global markets.

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