New Delhi, Oct 16 (Bureau) Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said Hunar Haat has become a credible platform to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Swadeshi-Swavlamban’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. Speaking during the inauguration of the 29th Hunar Haat at Numaish Ground, Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, the Minister said, these platforms will provide market to indigenous products of traditional artisans and craftsmen. “A target has been set to provide employment opportunities to 7.50 lakh artisans, craftsmen, and people associated with and through 75 Hunar Haats being organised under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he said. Union Ministry for Minority Affairs is organising Hunar Haat from October 16 to 25, as a part of series of 75 “Hunar Haat”, to be organised across the country under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence.
Inaugurating the Hunar Haat, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan said that each and every house of our country has skilled people. There is a need to provide branding and market-opportunities to their skills and Hunar Haat is playing an important role in this regard. “Hunar Haat is also available on GeM (Government eMarketplace) which will provide large scale national, as well as, international markets to indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen,” the Minister added. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was also present on the occasion, said that God has given art and skill in the hands of artisans and craftsmen of “Hunar Haat”.
“Hunar Haat is the most beautiful platform to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Vocal for Local’ campaigns,” he said. This year ‘Vishwakarma Vatika’ will be an attraction in Hunar Haats to promote and preserve precious traditional skills of artisans and craftsmen, where they will also be displaying how India’s traditional exquisite and elegant indigenous handmade products are made. The first such Vishwakarma Vatika has been set up in Hunar Haat at Rampur (UP) to protect, preserve and promote India’s glorious legacy of centuries-old skills and craftsmanship. Besides Vocal for Local, Hunar Haats are also based on the theme of “Best from Waste”. About 700 artisans and craftsmen from more than 30 states and UTs have brought their indigenous products made from wood, brass, bamboo, glass, cloth, paper, clay, etc to Hunar Haat.