Promoting Entrepreneurship through One Panchayat One Product (OPOP): A Study into its Dynamics and Feasibility in the Tribal Areas of the State of Odisha

Abstract

Development of the country depends upon the development of its Gram Panchayats (GPs) as these are the lowest economic units of the country and can optimally use the locally available resources viz., raw materials, talent and youth. Optimal usage depends upon the scale and extent of entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, this thought had eluded the policy makers until very recently. Therefore, despite many interventions and well intentioned attempts, neither the entrepreneurship nor the GPs are developed and are found wanting in many counts. Perusal of various interventions and research studies undertaken across the globe gives one the ideas that both are complementary to each other and can grow simultaneously. But very few studies have focused on the complementary role that the entrepreneurship and GPs can play for each other’s development. Therefore, the present study explores the entrepreneurial opportunities in the tribal regions by mapping the resources and the possibilities of developing Gram Panchayats by specializing on one product in each GP in the State of Odisha. It also explores the possibilities of minimizing the wastage of local resources and promotes entrepreneurship amongst the local tribal communities without having to depend on the outside help for their livelihood.