Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs launched the logo of ‘Hunar Haat’ here today and addressed a press conference on the occasion. The exhibition is being set up in Hall No. 14 of Pragati Maidan by National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) under scheme “USTTAD” (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) of Ministry of Minority Affairs. The logo will be used for branding exhibitions in future too.Briefing the media ,the Minister said that more than 184 master artisans from 26 States will showcase their traditional art and skills at “Hunar Haat”. The “Hunar Haat” is being organised at India International Trade Fair 2016 from 14 to 27 November. Shri Naqvi said that besides providing free of cost stall to artisans/craftsmen, the Minority Affairs Ministry will also make arrangements for their transport and will facilitate daily expenses so that they can reach Delhi and display their arts/skills at the international platform in the form of International Trade Fair.
Shri Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat” (Skill Haat) exhibition is aimed at promoting and supporting artisans from Minority communities and providing them domestic as well as international market for display and sell their products. This will provide an excellent platform to artisans belonging to Minority communities from across the nation to display their art and skills before the domestic and international visitors. “Hunar Haat” will be an amazing gathering of artisans from every corner from 25 states and Union Territories of the country.Shri Naqvi said that the exhibition will include artefacts made by cane and bamboo in North eastern states; cloth work and embroidery (chikan) work, brass artefacts, Jardoji clothes work of Uttar Pradesh; collection of pottery work of Southern states; sandalwood and other wooden artefacts; handicrafts from Bihar-Jharkhand; indigenous goods for domestic use from Bengal-Odisha and herbal products made from aloe vera, neem, tulsi etc.The exhibition at “Hunar Haat” will also display other arts/crafts like marble work from Rajasthan; beautiful handicrafts from Gujarat; Pashmina and bronze work from Kashmir. Besides, centuries old Ayurvedic, Unani health care; glass artefacts; Indian silk-cotton work will also be a part of the exhibition.
The artisans will also display their skills of making products live before the people at the Trade Fair.The USTTAD scheme aims at preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the traditional arts and crafts of the Minority communities. These crafts have gradually lost their employability in the light of globalisation and competitive market. This has demotivated the younger generation including the wards of master craft persons to look for different avenues for livelihood.IITF is an exhibition of national/international acclaim and is expected to provide ample opportunity and a platform under one roof to artisans and craft persons of Minority communities, to demonstrate, showcase and sell their products.The participating artisans include forty one from Uttar Pradesh, eighteen from Gujarat, seventeen from Delhi, sixteen from Jammu and Kashmir ,thirteen from Rajasthan , nine from West Bengal and seven from Bihar. Besides these states, artisans from Leh-Laddakh to Manipur, Nagaland to Kerala are participating in “Hunar Haat”.A special pavilion has also been put up in “Hunar Haat” exhibition area for audio-visual depiction of schemes & programs of the Ministry, NMDFC and constituent organizations. This will help in creating awareness about the schemes & programmes of the Ministry among the visitors, so that they could avail assistance under these programmes.