‘Centre focused on promoting rural industries’
NEW DELHI: Master artisans and craftsmen can contribute big time to the country’s economy and the central government’s aim is to take the rural industries’ annual turnover of about ₹80,000 crore to ₹5 lakh crore within the next two to three years, Union minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday while inaugurating the 26th edition of ‘Hunar Haat’ here.
More than 600 artisans and craftsmen from over 31 states and Union Territories are participating in the Minority Affairs Ministry’s ‘Hunar Haat’ being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on the theme of “Vocal for Local” from February 20 to March 1. The official inauguration, however, was held Sunday.
The artisans and craftsmen have a very important role in contributing to the country’s economy and GDP, Defence Minister Singh said.
“This is the irony that our rural industries did not get the kind of encouragement they should have. But our government is focused on promoting rural industries,” he said.
“The turnover of rural industries per year is approximately ₹80,000 crore and our government aims to take this turnover to ₹5 lakh crore within the next two to three years,” he said.
Hailing the ‘Hunar Haat’ initiative of the Minority Affairs Ministry, Singh said it would go a long way in achieving the objective of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
Singh said the ‘Hunar Haat’ brings together indigenous artisans and craftsmen from across the country “This Haat is a beau
RAJNATH SINGH, defence minister
tiful exhibition of our traditional art and craft and more importantly our cultural mosaic,” he said.
Artisans and craftsmen from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, are participating in ‘Hunar Haat’ to display and sell their products.
Exquisite indigenous handmade products such as brass products, wooden and clay toys, ajrakh block print, blue art pottery, pashmina shawl, khadi products, Banarasi silk, wooden furniture, Chikankari embroidery, Chanderi silk, Lac bangles, Rajasthani jewellery, jute products from West Bengal are available for sale and display at the ‘Hunar Haat’, an official release said. The visitors will also get to enjoy traditional delicacies from every region of the country at the “Bawarchikhana” section. it said.