UP plans toys cluster in Modi’s Varanasi constituency

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / Feb 11, 2021

The Uttar Pradesh government has planned to set up four toys manufacturing clusters in the state, including one in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency of Varanasi.

The remaining three clusters would be set up in Gorakhpur – the pocket borough of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Jhansi and Chitrakoot districts.

The state is looking to tap the voluminous domestic toys space in the country, which is currently dominated by cheap imports from mainly China, to the tune of nearly 90 per cent of the market. The domestic toys market is estimated at Rs 20,000 crore annually.

“These clusters will not only promote the toys industry in the state, but create a large number of jobs as well,” UP additional chief secretary, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), Navneet Sehgal said here.

In fact, the Adityanath government has also proposed to develop a mega Toy City in Greater Noida to take on the Dragon on this turf. The Toy City project is estimated to attract investment of Rs 3,000 crore and create direct employment opportunities for 50,000 people.

“There is an increasing demand for traditional terracotta and other toys manufactured in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Jhansi and Chitrakoot regions. The proposed toys clusters will introduce modern technologies to entrepreneurs and make available quality toys to the consumers at affordable prices,” he noted.

The Indian toys manufacturers have long been demanding the government(s) to facilitate the setting up of clusters across different states to counter the large volume of imports from China and other countries.