NE NEWS SERVICE
AHEMEDABAD, DECEMBER 8
Many states have started working on the union government’s proposal to establish ‘Hunar Hubs’, said Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi here on Sunday.
Addressing after inaugurating the “Hunar Haat’’ organised at Sabarmati Riverfront to promote the country’s indigenous traditional legacy of master artisans and craftsman, Naqvi said, “We are happy that several state governments have started working on the proposal of our ministry to set up ‘Hunar Hub’. We have received their proposals and will be funding them. We want to set up a hunar hub in every state, with more than one such hub in bigger states. Some states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala have started working on it’’.
Naqvi said the ministry has sanctioned 100 “Hunar Hubs’’ across the country.
Hunar Haat is organising in different cities across the country to provide a platform for artisans and craftsmen as well as culinary experts to showcase their skills and find markets, Naqvi said.
This model will generate employment to thousands of artisans, including women, he said, adding that several other countries have also shown interest in organising them.
After Ahmedabad, such Hunar Haats will be organised in Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Indore, among other cities.
Artisans from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Jammu-Kashmir, Jharkhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Manipur, Telangana have showcased their handicraft at the Haat in Ahmedabad, which will be open for public till December 15.
According to organiser, the dying art of Tikhu from Uttar Pradesh is a maiden entry along with coconut shell products from Kerala.
Traditional dance, music and qawwali will also be organised, they said.
Artisans from all communities are represented here, and the minister said the aim was for inclusive development comprising socio-economic and educational empowerment without discrimination.
Naqvi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working for the inclusive growth of the country as “e(empowerment)- messiah”.
