Context

• In her Budget Speech for FY 2023-24, the Union Finance Minister unveiled the establishment of a ‘Unity-Mall’ in each State of the country. These malls are envisioned to be strategically located, preferably in the respective State capitals. 
• This initiative is an integral component of the Union Government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure development throughout the country and stimulating capital investment within the States. 

Objectives

• Unity Mall are designed to foster national unity, expedite progress towards the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, offer local artisans opportunities to showcase and sell their products, create employment opportunities, facilitate skill development, champion local cuisine, celebrate cultural heritage, bolster tourism, and ultimately contribute to overall economic prosperity.  
• To showcase the rich tapestry of special products from various districts within the State, each mall will have a dedicated shop for every district. Additionally, each Unity Mall will allocate one shop to each State in India, enabling the sale of their GI products, One District One Product (ODOP) offerings, and other prominent regional products.  
  • A Geographical Indication (GI) signifies the specific country or place of origin for a product. It provides assurance of the product’s quality and unique characteristics associated with its origin in a well-defined geographical area. 
  • The ODOP initiative aims to select, brand, and promote at least one product from each District of the country for enabling holistic socioeconomic growth across all regions.

Other Key Features

• To ensure the success of the Unity Mall, States have been urged to extend financial assistance to facilitate the participation of sellers from distant regions and remote districts.  
• To ensure the long-term sustainability of Unity Malls, their operation and maintenance will be structured under a Public-Private Partnership model. In this arrangement, ownership of the mall will remain with the State government, while operational and maintenance responsibilities will  be entrusted to a private party. 

Conclusion

• The initiative to establish Unity Malls throughout the nation is poised to play pivotal roles in fostering economic development, providing citizens with recreational spaces, enhancing tourism, and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of our diverse and unique nation distinctively.