Prayagraj : State govt has revived Moonj, the traditional handicraft that was once on the verge of extinction, with a new identity under ODOP (One District One Product), helping it find its way into the global market.
Now, authorities are planning to set up stalls to showcase it at the forthcoming Haridwar Ardh Kumbh and 2027 Magh Mela. The establishment of a ‘Tourist Craft Village’—built at a cost of Rs 5 crore and inaugurated on Sept 13, 2024—has opened new market avenues. Govt data indicates exports of moonj products alone have reached Rs 12 crore. At the five-day mega-event for entrepreneurship held in Greater Noida from Sept 25 to 29, products made from ‘Moonj’ received a significant boost. Tabassum noted that all the Self-Help Group stalls were located in Hall 11. Despite the presence of numerous other stalls featuring Moonj products, her stall attracted over 50,000 visitors. During the event, she sold products worth over ₹28,000. Pawan Kumar Mishra, a partner at ‘The Perfect Bazaar’—which also participated in the same category—shared that their stall was located in Hall 10. Between 1.5 and 2 lakh people visited their stall over the five days, with many visitors expressing interest in future online procurement.
Moonj products found recognition at the recently held UP International Trade Show—a platform that showcased the state’s entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, skills, and business potential on a global stage in Greater Noida and provided a new identity to products. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath ’s ambitious ODOP scheme has fostered self-reliance among women. In Sangam city, the chosen product is ‘moonj’, a wild grass/reed craft, with women from Maheva village in the Naini area playing a leading role in its production. The Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UP ITS)—a platform that showcases the state’s entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, skills, and business potential on a global stage—has provided a new identity to these local products. Representing Prayagraj in this category were ‘The Perfect Bazaar’—a unit that crafts international-standard Moonj products—and Tabassum Maqsood from the ‘Bhola Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh’ (Women’s Self-Help Group). As these are eco-friendly products, many visitors requested her contact details to place future orders. His unit showcased over two dozen varieties of products across different categories.