LOK SABHA
With a view to
providing a permanent marketing outlet to the artisans community
from rural as well urban areas, a plan scheme titled "Setting
up of Urban Haats" was launched in the year 1999-2000.
The scheme envisaged setting up of Urban Haats on the pattern
of the successful experiment of Dilli Haat, New Delhi. During
the 9th Plan period 18 such Haats were approved by
Planning Commission at commercially important and tourist oriented
locations in the country and the target was fully achieved.
Urban Haats at Jammu (J&K), Karnal (Haryana), Bhubaneshwar
(Orissa) and Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh) have become operational
and the marketing events are being organized. The calendar of
events for participation of artisans throughout the country
in these Haats have been drawn and circulated. The artisans
have started participating in these Haats. The remaining Urban
Haats are at different stages of completion. These Haats will
benefit more than 36 thousand artisans annually.
During the
10th Five Year Plan, 20 more Urban Haats are proposed
to be set up in different parts of the country, out of which
6 Urban Haats at Lucknow (UP), Surat & Bhuj (Gujarat), Hazaribagh
(Jharkhand), Patiala (Punjab) and Varanasi (UP) have been sanctioned/approved.
The scheme allows for allotment of built up stalls to artisans
on fortnightly rotation basis and at nominal rentals. In the
Haats, artisans get an opportunity for direct sale of their
products to the consumers without involving any middlemen. By
establishing one Urban Haat, the government ensures direct fortnightly
market facilitates to approximately 2000 artisans in one year.
Selling of products directly to the consumer is important to
eliminate the role of middlemen who usually grab the major portion
of profits in the handicrafts/handlooms sector. Not only this,
customers/tourists of these Haats will also get a cultural ambiance
in the heart of the cities and they will also enjoy ethnic food
of different states in addition to getting handicrafts/handloom
items at reasonable rates.
This information
was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban
Development & Poverty Alleviation Shri Pon. Radhkrishnan
in a written reply to Shri Mansinh Patel & Dr. M.P. Jaiswal
in Lok Sabha today.
