Hailing the contribution of fairs like Surajkund International Crafts Mela in economic self-sufficiency, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that we should adopt the basic mantra of 'Local for a bright tomorrow’ as giving priority to local products would be of great help to the craftsmen and small entrepreneurs of the area.
Speaking after inaugurating the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela at Surajkund in Faridabad, Kovind said that through various public welfare schemes of the Central Government, many programs of skill and employment are being run to make the minorities, especially women self-reliant. One of them 'Hunar Haat' has proved to be a strong campaign in providing employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and chefs. He said that under 'Hunar Haat', 2.65 lakh skilled people belonging to minority community has been provided employment opportunities.
The President was accompanied by his wife Savita Kovind. Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya , Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur.
Kovind said as lakhs of people would come to see Surajkund Mela, the message of Mahatma Gandhi for the spread of hygiene, Khadi-products and handloom items can be easily conveyed to the people in this fair.
Congratulating the craftsmen and artists from various states and abroad, Kovind said that the Surajkund International Crafts Mela has become an established platform to showcase the art-skills, talent and entrepreneurship of the people of India. He said that the fair is organized to preserve and promote the dying art of handicrafts and special art forms of handlooms and to provide an appropriate platform for artisans to showcase their work.
He said that this year Himachal Pradesh is the "Theme State" and Uzbekistan is the 'Partner Nation'. In this fair, the cultural heritage and traditional art of Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh is being featured. He said that this fair also presents an excellent opportunity to witness the rich culture and the traditional art forms of Uzbekistan.
Kovind said Kullu Dussehra of Himachal and Surajkund Mela of Haryana, have attracted tourists from the country and abroad in the last few years.
Welcoming President Kovind, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “we have implemented the State Cultural Policy 'Kalash' (Arts and Culture Haryana) to provide various genres and platforms to the artists of the state”. A project has also been initiated for the preservation of all the state protected monuments and to protect their exterior design. An Atlas of the ongoing work on the projects of Harappan sites in Haryana would be published soon, he added.
Khattar said the folk songs , arts and artefacts of Haryana show the eternal legacy of love, devotion and hard work developed and nurtured by the people of Haryana .
An agreement has been signed between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Haryana to jointly organize various cultural and arts related programs. Under this agreement, the Haryanvi culture and art are being displayed not only in our country but also abroad.
He said Kurukshetra has been included in the “Srikrishna Circuit” under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Under this scheme, development works on various pilgrimages were being done in the State.
Khattar said in the Shivalik region, the Kalka to Kalesar stretch is also being developed from tourism point of view. He said that our plan is to revive the Saraswati River and develop the areas associated with the Saraswati as tourist and pilgrimage sites internationally. Adibadri is the pilgrimage site on the Saraswati River situated on the border of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. At present, the origin of River Saraswati is considered as Adibadri which is a very beautiful scenic site and is being developed as a pilgrimage site.
Speaking on this occasion, Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur thanked Khattar for giving an opportunity to Himachal Pradesh to become a theme State in the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela. He said that Himachal Pradesh got this opportunity again after a period of 24 years.
Thakur said Haryana and Himachal shares lot of similarities in their arts and culture and fairs like Surajkund Mela provides an appropriate platform to the artisans and craftsmen to showcase their products.
He said that work is underway for the expansion of two Airports in Himachal and this would attract more tourists from the country and abroad to Himachal. Apart from this, the Government plans to set up a new Airport to give further boost to tourism in the State. He said that efforts are also being made to further promote water sports, snow skiing and paragliding.
Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, Farhod Arziev said that a high level delegation of Uzbekistan comprising 100 artisans and craftsmen are participating in the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela. He said that this is part of continuous efforts of the Uzbekistan Government to support its craftsman globally. He wished the success of the fair and hoped that the friendship between India and Uzbekistan would last forever.