March 15, 2002

`19`

LOK SABHA

URBAN HAAT

    A new scheme of ‘Urban Haat’ for providing direct marketing facilities to artisans and weavers was launched during the year 1998-1999.

    The scheme envisages setting up of Haats at prime urban locations of the country where tourism, transition, culture and craft creation flourish together. The prime objective of the scheme is to provide direct marketing avenues to craftpersons/weavers by eliminating middle agencies. The scheme entails capital cost upto Rs. 200.00 lakhs, out of which 70% is provided by the Government of India and the balance 30% by the respective State Governments. The responsibility of providing developed land measuring not less than 18,000 sq.m. rest with the concerned State Government. The scheme is being implemented through State Handicrafts/Handloom Development Corporations/Tourism Development Corporations in consultation with the respective State Government.

    Till date approval has been accorded for setting up of thirteen(13) Urban Haats at Ahmedabad, Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Ranchi, Karnal, Bhopal, Jammu, Tirupati, Agartala, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Raipur. Once completed each Urban Haat shall provide direct marketing opportunity to nearly 2200 artisans/weavers per annum. At present, only one Urban Haat at Tirupati has become functional with w.e.f. 24.9.2001. So far 269 artisans had been benefited by way of their participation in craft bazars organised at Tirupati Urban Haat.

    The financial assistance provided to various states for setting up of Urban Haats during the last three years is as under:-

(Rs. In Lakhs)

    This was stated by the Minister of State for Textiles, Shri V. Dhananjaya Kumar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.