New Delhi, Feb 25 (KNN) Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that artisans and craftsmen showcasing their art and products at the government’s on-going Hunar Haat programme will soon be listed on the Ministry of Commerce’s e-commerce portal Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

‘’The Ministry is also in discussion with several export promotion councils so that these artisans and craftsmen receive large scale orders from India and international markets regularly,’’ said an official release from the Ministry.

Hunar Haat is being organised across India to help artisans and weavers promote their art and sell their products.

The ministry of Minority affairs earlier this month had said that Each Haat “generates business worth crores of rupees for indigenous handmade exquisite products of artisans and craftsmen. These artisans are receiving orders for their products not only from domestic markets but also from international markets.

Speaking on the last day of the Haat organised at India Gate lawns, Rajpath, Naqvi cited PM Modi’s visit to the Haat. “By mentioning ‘Hunar Haat’, the prime minister has reiterated our government’s commitment to promote and encourage the legacy of our indigenous arts and crafts,” he said.

He said that Prime Minister made a surprise visit to “Hunar Haat” and his visit gave a tremendous boost and world-wide recognition to talent of Indian artisans and craftsmen. Shri Modi also enjoyed “Kulhad Ki Chai” and Bihar’s delicious “Litti-Chokha”. During his about one-hour long presence at “Hunar Haat”, the Prime Minister visited several stalls and interacted with artisans and also took information about their indigenous products.

Naqvi further said that Prime Minister's visit gave a tremendous publicity to “Hunar Haat” as the number of visitors increased day by day after his visit. More than 15 lakh visitors, both domestic and international, visited “Hunar Haat” at India Gate Lawns, Rajpath, in these last 11 days. The visitors encouraged the artisans, craftsmen and also enjoyed traditional delicacies of various states at “Bawarchikhana” section at “Hunar Haat”.

Modi had visited the Haat on Wednesday where he had ‘kulhad ki chai’ and ‘litti-chokha’ and interacted with craftsmen about their art and products.

The “Hunar Haat” at India Gate Lawns was inaugurated by Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry  Piyush Goyal; Union Minister for Urban Development (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri and President ICCR Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe on February 13th.

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