Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on February 9, 2020, said that “Hunar Haat”, being organised across the country by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, have proved to be a “Mega Mission” of economic empowerment of needy master artisans and craftsmen.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating “Hunar Haat” along with Governor of Madhya Pradesh Lalji Tandon, at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat” has become a “Mega Mission” of indigenous Craft, Cuisine, Culture, and economic empowerment of master artisans, craftsmen. The success of “Hunar Haat” can be gauged from the fact that about 3 lakh needy master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts have been provided employment and employment opportunities through “Hunar Haat” in the last about 3 years. These beneficiaries include a large number of women artisans, he said, according to a PIB release.
Naqvi said that in the next 5 years, about 100 “Hunar Haat” will be organised across the country which will result into employment opportunities to lakhs of artisans and craftsmen and people associated with them. He said that PM Narendra Modi-led Government is not only providing employment opportunities to master artisans and craftsmen, it is also preserving and promoting India’s indigenous traditional legacy of master artisans and craftsmen which was on the verge of extinction.
Naqvi said that central Government has sanctioned 100 “Hunar Hubs” in different parts of the country. Training is being provided to master artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts according to modern needs at these “Hunar Hubs” and they are also being provided national-international markets.
He also said that “Hunar Haat”, being organised at prominent places across the country, have proved to be financially beneficial for the needy artisans and craftsmen as each “Hunar Haat” generates business worth crores of rupees for indigenous handmade exquisite products of artisans and craftsmen. These artisans are receiving orders for their products not only from domestic markets but also from international markets. “Hunar Haat” have become “Employment and Empowerment Exchange” for master artisans and craftsmen, he added.
Naqvi said that the “Hunar Haat”organised at Indore is the 19th “Hunar Haat” of the Minority Affairs Ministry. So far, “Hunar Haat” have been organised at various places in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Allahabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Puducherry. The next “Hunar Haat” will be organised at India Gate Lawns, Rajpath, New Delhi, (from February 13 to 23, 2020); Ranchi from February 29 to March 8, 2020, and at Chandigarh from March 13 to 22, 2020.
He said that in the coming days, “Hunar Haat” will be organised in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Dehradun, Patna, Bhopal, Nagpur, Raipur, Puducherry, Amritsar, Jammu, Shimla, Goa, Kochi, Guwahati, Bhubneshwar, Ajmer, and other places.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Governor of Madhya Pradesh Lalji Tandon said that India is a country of diversity with every region having different art, culture, language, costumes. This “Unity in Diversity” is the identity of India. Every corner of the country has its own legacy of arts/crafts, he said.