7-Apr-2022: Challenges in USTTAD Scheme

Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme aims  to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities. Hunar Haat has been implemented since 2016-17 as a component of USTTAD scheme to provide an effective platform and opportunity to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products.

The COVID pandemic has posed a great challenge and has affected the artisan community, by adversely impacting sales of arts/crafts products, their livelihood opportunities and sources of income.   As soon as the COVID SOPs were relaxed, Ministry while observing the various COVID protocols had re-started the training being conducted under USTTAD Scheme and also organised Hunar Haats by strictly following the COVID protocols.  The Hunar Haats organised after the COVID pandemic  are at  Delhi  (4), Rampur (2), Lucknow (2), Mysuru, Bhopal, Goa, Dehradun, Surat, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Chandigarh.  This has provided the artisans with much needed opportunity to resume their businesses and work, including providing employment to workers.

Further, Hunar Haat has continuously expanded both physically as well as digitally with a view to overcome the challenges of the post-COVID era.  Hunar Haat is available on a virtual platform  www.hunarhaat.org in the form of E-Haat and Government e Marketplace (GeM) platform wherein handicraft and indigenous products of artisans are displayed on the website and buyers can directly buy from artisans.  Ministry has also tied up with the apex body of handicraft exporters in the country to promote exports of products/handicrafts of artisans and craft persons by strengthening the export orientation of artisans through capacity building & training with focus on digital content/e-learning, product & design development, e-commerce, marketing and export promotions.

“Nai Roshni”, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women is being implemented across India with an aim to empower and instill confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions at all levels. The Ministry has successfully implemented Nai Roshni Scheme despite various challenges posed by COVID -19.

21-Mar-2022: Craft Clusters Identified under USTTAD

Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme was launched on 14th May, 2015 to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities. The scheme aims at capacity building and updating the traditional skills of master craftsmen/artisans, documentation of identified traditional arts/crafts of minorities, set standards for traditional skills, training of minority youths in various identified traditional arts/crafts through master craftsmen, and develop national and international market linkages.

Ministry has engaged institutions of national repute namely, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID) to work in various craft clusters for design intervention, product range development, documentation of identified crafts, set standards of identified crafts, conduct exhibitions and brand building etc. Approx. 49 crafts clusters have been identified so far by the knowledge partner under the USTTAD scheme covering various traditional arts & crafts.

The training component of the scheme was started in the year 2016-17. The number of beneficiaries under the scheme for the year 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 are 16,200, 3465 and 3465 respectively, out of which 540 candidates are from the state of Bihar. The training during the last two years could not be conducted due to Covid pandemic.

Further, Hunar Haat is being implemented since 2016-17 as a component of USTTAD scheme. Hunar Haat is an effective platform wherein opportunity is given to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products. Hunar Haat is helping in promotion and preservation of languishing traditional arts, crafts and indigenous products which is playing an effective role in the pledge of Swadeshi se Swavalamban’’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ thereby contributing to the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Hunar Haat has generated employment and employment opportunities for artisans, craft persons and associated persons and has further strengthened their market linkages. So far, more than 8 lakh artisans, craftsmen and people associated with them have benefitted through various Hunar Haats organized by the Ministry.