“Hunar Haat” Became Mega Mission of Economic Empowerment for Artisans: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has 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. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating “Hunar Haat” along with Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Lalji Tandon, at Indore, Madhya Pradesh today.

Shri 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 & 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.

Shri 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.

Shri Naqvi further said that the Prime Minister Shri 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.

Shri 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 in these “Hunar Hubs” and they are also being provided national-international markets.

Shri Naqvi 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.

Shri Naqvi said that the “Hunar Haat”, being organised at Indore, is the 19^th “Hunar Haat” of the Minority Affairs Ministry. So far, “Hunar Haat” have been organized at various places in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Allahabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Puducherry. The next “Hunar Haat” will be organized at India Gate Lawns, Rajpath, New Delhi (from 13^th to 23^rd Feb, 2020); Ranchi from 29th February to 8th March and in Chandigarh from 13^th to 22^nd March, 2020.

Shri Naqvi said that in the coming days, “Hunar Haat” will be organized 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, the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri 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.

Shri Lalji Tandon congratulated Shri Naqvi for providing employment opportunities to artisans through "Hunar Haat" on a large scale. The Governor said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs, under the leadership of Shri Naqvi, is strengthening Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji's "Dream Project" to provide opportunity and market to the country's rich heritage of arts/crafts.

The Governor said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs is doing a historic task of preserving and promoting the magnificent heritage of the skilled people of every corner of the country and providing them national and international market.

In “Hunar Haat” at Indore which is organised from 08th to 16th February, 2020, 125 stalls have been set up and more than 250 master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country are participating. These artisans include a large number of women artisans. They have brought with them indigenous exquisite handmade products. “Bawarchikhana” will provide taste of traditional delicacies of several states. Cultural programmes, being organized on daily basis, will also be a major attraction of the “Hunar Haat” in Indore.