Women's participation rises at IITF’s Hunar Haat in Delhi

January 08, 2018

New Delhi: ‘Hunar Haat’, a spectacular platform of Ministry of Minority Affairs where exquisite pieces of Handicraft & Handloom prepared by inmates of Tihar Jail and master artisans from across the country are displayed, was inaugurated at India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, today.

While inaugurating 'Hunar Haat', being organised from 14th to 27th Nov, 2017, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat” at Pragati Maidan is an immpresive gathering of master artisans & craftsmen from “Tihar to Tripura, Kashmir to Kanyakumari & Karnataka to Kolkata”.

This time, the 'Hunar Haat' is being organised at Hall Number-7G and 7H of Pragati Maidan, where about 130 artisans from 20 states and Union Territories are participating. The participation of women artisans has increased at the Haat this time with the participation of 30 women artisans.

Platforms like Hunar Haat and other such interventions are crucial for the upliftment of  traditional craftsmen particularly women as it not only gives a fillip to their income but also go a long way in keeping traditional arts alive.

Ministry of Minority Affairs is organising “Hunar Haat” under 'USTTAD' scheme at different parts of the country and “Hunar Haat” have become a successful mission to provide employment and employment opportunities and national as well international markets for thousands of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts which include a significant number of women.

The Minister said that while on one hand “Hunar Haat” have provided a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display their rich heritage and skill, on the other hand these exhibitions are providing domestic and international markets to these artisans and craftsmen.

Naqvi said that this “Hunar Haat” is unique from earlier “Hunar Haat” as for the first time products made by inmates of Delhi’s Tihar Jail are also available. These products include handmade furniture, handlooms, handicrafts, bakery items, organic oil, spices and grain.

Naqvi said that the artisans have brought with them very exquisite pieces of Handicraft & Handloom work like Cane & Bamboo & Jute Products of Assam; Tussar, Geeja, Matka Silk of Bhagalpur; Traditional Jewellery, Lac Bangles & Jewellery from Rajasthan & Telangana; Kantha Products of West Bengal; Brocades of Varanasi; Lucknawi Chikan Work, Zari Zardozi from U.P; Khurja Ceramic Products; Clay items, Blackstone Pottery, Dry Flowers and Traditional Handicrafts of North-East; Shawls, Carpets & Papier-mache of Kashmir; Ajrakh Print, Mutva, Kutch Embroidery & Bandhej of Gujarat; Batik/Bagh/Maheshwari of Madhya Pradesh; Aplique & Ajrakh of Barmer; Leather Products, Brassware of Moradabad; Kalamkari of Telangana; to name a few. New products include baskets made from Natural Grass by artisans from Puducherry & UP; Gota patti work from Rajasthan, Mural paintings & Bandhej from Gujarat.

Artisans and craftsmen from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi , Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and West Bengal are participating.