In a move aimed at reaching out to minorities, the BJP-led NDA government will organise first of its kind large scale exhibition for artisans from the communities here with over 180 artists, including 41 from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, set to partake in it.
During the exhibition 'Hunar (Skill) Haat' -- to be held from November 14 to November 27 at India International Trade Fair, Pragati Maidan -- 184 artisans from 25 states will showcase skills, giving them global platform to market their works, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.
"...The exhibition is aimed at promoting and supporting the artisans from the communities and providing them domestic as well as international market for displaying their skills and selling products," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) told reporters here.
Artefacts made of cane and bamboo (from north-eastern states); cloth and embroidery 'chikan', brass artefacts, Jardoji clothe work (Uttar Pradesh); collection of pottery (southern states); sandalwood and other wooden artefacts and handicrafts (Bihar-Jharkhand); indigenous goods for domestic use from Bengal-Odisha and herbal products made from aloe vera, neem, tulsi, etc will be showcased at the exhibition.
The Haat will also have on display other arts/crafts like marble work from Rajasthan; handicrafts from Gujarat and Pashmina and bronze work from Kashmir, Naqvi said.
Besides, Ayurvedic and Unani healthcare, glass artefacts and Indian silk-cotton work will also be a part of the exhibition.
"We are also making efforts to make arrangements so that the artisans can make live demonstration of their skills to those visiting stalls," the Minister said.
The Ministry has arranged 100 stalls for the artisans at hall number 14 of Pragati Maidan free of cost. To make it convenient for the artisans coming from remote areas of the country, the Ministry has also arranged for their transportation and will also pay for their daily expenses, he added.
For the exhibition, being organised by National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation Limited (NMDFC) under its Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development scheme, the Ministry received a total of 740 applications, out of which the aforesaid number of artisans have been shortlisted.
Apart from Uttar Pradesh, artisans from Gujarat (18), Delhi (17), Jammu and Kashmir (16), Rajasthan (13), West Bengal (9), Bihar (7), Andhra Pradesh (6) and others will partake in the exhibition.
Meanwhile, Naqvi also launched logo of the Haat during the briefing.
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