Hunar Haats | 13 Dec 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has organised the 34th Edition of Hunar Haat in Gujarat where Artisans from 30 states and union territories have participated.

Key Points

  • About:
    • First launched in 2016, it is an exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the minority communities.
    • Hunar Haat has been conceptualized to protect and promote the country’s ancestral legacy of arts and crafts in the current global competition and to support the traditional artisans and craftsmen.
    • The artisans selected in the Hunar Haat exhibition are those whose forefathers were involved in such traditional handmade work and are still continuing the profession.
  • Theme:
  • Organizer:
  • Aim:
    • To provide market exposure and employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts.
    • Boosting the skills of craftsmen, weavers and artisans who are already engaged in the traditional ancestral work.
  • SIgnificance:
    • ‘Hunar Haat’ has proved to be an “Empowerment Exchange” for master artisans and craftsmen.
    • It has proved to be immensely beneficial and encouraging for artisans and craftsmen as lakhs of people visit the “Hunar Haat” and purchase indigenous handmade products of artisans on a large scale.
    • It is also providing employment opportunities to lakhs of artisans and craftsmen from across the country.
      • Presently around 7 lakh people across the country are directly and indirectly associated with Hunar Haat, About 40 % of them are women artisans, and in the next couple of years, around 17 lakh families are expected to join Hunar Haat.

Other Schemes Related to Minorities

  • Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karyakram:
    • The programme aims to develop socio-economic and basic amenities assets like school, college, polytechnic, girls hostel, ITI, skill development centre etc for the minority communities.
  • Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls Scholarships:
    • It provides scholarships for economically backward girls belonging to the six notified Minority communities.
  • Gharib Nawaz Employment Scheme:
    • Was launched so that short term job oriented skill development courses may be provided to minorities’ youth in order to enable them for skill based employment.
  • Seekho aur Kamao:
    • This is a placement linked skill development scheme for minorities aiming to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their qualification, present economic trends and market potential, which can earn them suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment.
  • Nai Manzil:
    • It is a scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts launched in 2015.
  • Usttad (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development):
    • The scheme aims to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities..
  • Nai Roshni:
    • Launched for leadership development of women belonging to minority communities.

Source: PIB