In a major policy announcement, government today said it has decided to discontinue as a central scheme the setting up of 'haats', places where ethnic handicrafts and handloom are exhibited and sold.
The Rural Development Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that the policy decision in this regard was taken in May.
On May 1, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved restructuring of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and one of the key decision was that Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana ceased to exist with effect from April 1.
"Accordingly, the existing policy of setting up of 'haats' at district and state level was reviewed...A policy decision was taken in May 2013...To discontinue with district/state haats as a central scheme," Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain 'Aditya' said in a written reply.
Under the revised policy, for the already approved haats, the states concerned will be given time till March 31, 2014 to complete the projects. This will be reckoned as a spill over liability to be met by the Centre. If the scheme is not completed by then, the states will be allowed to complete these using funds under NRLM after bringing them into Annual Action Plan.
"If the work has not started and funds are still available, they may be treated as carry over funds of NRLM from April 2014. If the states so desire, they may set up the haats using the funds for infrastructure available under NRLM. For this, the proposals should be developed as a business model and included in the Annual Action Plan of the states concerned," Aditya said.
