NEW DELHI, Sep 8: After a gap of about six months due to the Corona pandemic, “Hunar Haat” being organized by the union ministry of minority affairs will restart in October from Prayagraj (Allahabad) with the theme “Local to Global” and focus on indigenous exquisite Indian toys in keeping with the prime minister Narendra Modi’s call for “self-reliant India.”
Announcing this here on Tuesday, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to the traditional and ancestral legacy of indigenous toys in every corner of the country which was on the verge of extinction but had been re-born after Modi pitched for “Swadeshi Toys.”
He said the Indian toy industry as a whole had received a tremendous boost after the call for “Vocal for Local Toys.” India was endowed with diversity of indigenous toys made with wood, brass, bamboo, glass, cloth, paper, clay etc. “Hunar Haat” would be an enormous platform providing market and opportunities to master artisans who prepare these indigenous exquisite toys, he said.
Naqvi said resumption of “Hunar Haat” series would start from Prayagraj from October 9 to 18 with the theme “Local to Global”. More than 30 per cent stalls would be reserved for artisans who prepare indigenous toys. They would also be extended help through various institutions for attractive packaging of “Swadeshi Toys,” he said.
He said “Hunar Haat” which had provided employment and employment opportunities to more than five lakh Indian artisans, craftsmen, culinary experts and other people associated with them in the last five years, had become popular among the people. “Hunar Haat”, which provided market and opportunity to master artisans and craftsmen from remote areas of the country, had become a credible brand of rare exquisite indigenous handmade products, he added.
He pointed out that the Minority Affairs Ministry had organised more than two dozen “Hunar Haats” so far across the country where lakhs of artisans, craftsmen have been provided employment and employment opportunities. He announced the schedule for the “Hunar Haat” series and said after Prayagraj from October 9 to 18, “Hunar Haat” would be organized at Jaipur (23 Oct -1 November 2020), Chandigarh (7- 15 November 2020), Indore (21 to 29 November 2020), Mumbai (22 to 31 December 2020), Hyderabad (8 to 17 January 2021), Lucknow (23 to 31 January 2021), India Gate, New Delhi (13 to 21 February 2021), Ranchi (20 to 28 February 2021), Kota (5 to 14 March 2021), Surat/Ahmedabad (20 to 27 March 2021) etc.
Naqvi said this time the people would also be able to buy “Hunar Haat” products digital and online. His ministry was registering these artisans and their indigenous products on “GeM” (Government e Marketplace). Several export promotion councils had shown interest to provide international markets at large scale for handmade indigenous products of these artisans and craftsmen, he added.
(Manas Dasgupta)
