Smriti Irani Woos Handicraft Artisans

The Union Textiles Minister Mrs. Smriti Zubin Irani announced a review of the stall allotment policy at Dilli Haat; the Minister has said that the policy will be modified in two weeks. Mrs. Irani announced also that allotment of stalls will henceforth be made only for artisans belonging to handicraft clusters, in order to ensure that allotment is made for genuine artisans.

NEW DELHI: In another decision made for the welfare of artisans, the Minister said that arrangements for lodging and boarding would be provided to artisans coming from outside Delhi, as opposed to the cash rebate they are given at present.

She further announced that artisans belonging to Below Poverty Line category would be provided stalls at concessional rates. The Minister made these four announcements, after inaugurating the fortnight-long Exhibition cum sale of Handicrafts developed by Artisans of Clusters, 'Cluster Creation 2016', at Dilli Haat in New Delhi.

Interacting with media persons, the Minister also said that the National Handicrafts Fair is being organized with an aim to provide an opportunity for even the poorest of the poor artisans to come to the national capital and display their products, in line with the Government's developmental philosophy of 'Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas'.

Earlier, Irani visited the exhibition and interacted with craft persons from various parts of India. The fair will remain open for public till 15th of November 2016.

The fair is being promoted and marketed by Council of Handicrafts Development Corporations (COHANDS), with financial assistance from the office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

Member of Parliament, Mr Ramesh Bidhuri and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Mr Alok Kumar were also present on the occasion.

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