Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda and Union Minister for Minorities Affair Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi jointly inaugurated Ranchi’s maiden 9- day ‘Hunar Haat’ on Sunday at Harmu Ground of the State Capital. The idea behind ‘Hunar Haat’ was to encourage, promote and provide national and international exposure to artisans and craftsmen of minority community, said Naqvi on the occasion.
The Ministry has organised 21 Hunat Haats so far across India. After inaugurating the exhibition cum market, Munda said that the Tribal Affairs Ministry and Minority Affairs Ministry are working in coordination to provide international market, opportunities and recognition to India’s traditional art and crafts. ‘Hunar Haat’ is an effective mission which has been ensuring that the common people become a part of mainstream economic development, he added.
“Hunar Haat has been providing market and opportunity to India’s indigenous legacy of handmade art and crafts. “Hunar Haat” has proved to be platform to bring India’s rich cultural heritage under one roof,” said Munda.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that while on one hand, ‘Hunar Haat’ has ensured ‘Kaushal Ko Kaam’ (Work for Skill), on the other hand it has given international recognition to legacy of Indian art and crafts.
“Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to Hunar Haat at India Gate in New Delhi, organised from February 13 to February 23, has given tremendous boost and encouragement to artisans, craftsmen especially women artisans from across the Country,” said Naqvi.
Naqvi said 125 stalls have been set up at ‘Hunar Haat’ in Ranchi where more than 250 artisans and craftsmen including women artisans from across the country are participating. “Artisans have brought with them rare handmade indigenous products from every corner of the Country. Visitors will also enjoy traditional delicacies of various states and cultural programmes to be held daily,” he added.
More than 3 lakh artisans, craftsmen, culinary experts and people associated with them including a large number of women artisans have been provided employment through ‘Hunar Haat’ in the last 3 years, said Naqvi.
The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs said that Union Minority Affairs Ministry has started process to register these artisans and their indigenous products on “GeM” (Government e Marketplace). “Several export promotion councils have shown interest in providing international markets on a large scale for handmade indigenous products of these artisans and craftsmen. Indian Packaging Institute has been providing training to artisans to improve their methods of packaging and to make it more attractive,” he added.
Naqvi said that the next ‘Hunar Haat” will be organized in Chandigarh from March 13 to March 22 and in the coming days, it will be organized in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and other cities. So far, it has been organized at various places in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Indore.
On the occasion, women artisans, who have come to “Hunar Haat” in Ranchi from across the country, were felicitated. On the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Khanna; Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth; former Jharkhand Government Minister and MLA from Ranchi, CP Singh and other dignitaries were also present.