Lok Sabha Question No. 776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Implementation of USTTAD Scheme in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Pushpendra Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.776

ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF USTTAD SCHEME IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 776.  SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of artisans and crafts people trained under the USTTAD scheme since 2020, Craft, State/UT and district-wise particularly for Uttar Pradesh;

(b)  whether  any  measures  have  been  taken  to  ensure  sustained  employment  or  market linkages for trained artisans and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  total  budget  sanctioned,  allocated,  and  utilised  for  the  implementation  of  USTTAD Scheme in the Country during the last five years, State/UT and year-wise particularly in Uttar Pradesh; and

(d) whether any steps have been taken to digitally document and promote traditional crafts from minority communities under the scheme and if so, the details and the outcomes thereof, State/UT and year-wise particularly in Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a):  USTTAD  scheme  was  launched  in  2015  for  targeted  capacity  building  and  upgrading traditional  skills  of  master  craftspersons/  artisans.  Under  this  Scheme,  33%  seats  were earmarked for women beneficiaries. Training was imparted to more than 21,000 beneficiaries under the scheme and 89% (approx.) of these beneficiaries were women. Besides, the total beneficiaries  from  Uttar  Pradesh  were  9,166  under  the  USTTAD  scheme  in  clusters  like Chikankari, Wood Carving, Traditional Embroidery (Zardozi), Munj Craft, Kashidakari and Crewel work.

Further,  under  the  USTTAD  Scheme,  the  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  also  onboarded Knowledge Partners of repute like National Institute of Design(NID), and National Institute  of  Fashion  Technology(NIFT)  to  conduct  design  and  development  workshops  for identified traditional art and craft clusters. In Uttar Pradesh, six such clusters were covered, through NID and NIFT, under the said scheme, namely:

- i. Banaras Brocade -Varanasi
- ii. Soft Stone -Varanasi
- iii. Glass Flamework -Firozabad
- iv. Kamdani -Lucknow
- v. Chikankari -Lucknow
- vi. Bone Carving -Lucknow

(b): The Ministry had earlier organised 41 Hunar Haats whereby opportunity was given to artisans/craftpersons and culinary experts from across the country including Uttar Pradesh, to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products.  These  programmes benefitted more than 8 lakh people including artisans, craft persons and associated persons. Out  of  these  41  Hunar  Haats,  9  were  organised  in  Uttar  Pradesh  at  Prayagraj,  Lucknow, Rampur, Vrindavan and Agra.

USTTAD scheme has now been converged as a component into an integrated scheme called 'Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan' (PM VIKAS) for minority communities focusing on skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership development of minority women; and education support for school dropouts.

Under  the  PM  VIKAS  scheme,  Ministry  has  been  organising  'Lok  Samvardhan  Parv', bringing  together  minority  artisans  from  across  India  and  assist  them  to  scale  up  their operations  and  businesses.  The  platform  offers  artisans  a  unique  opportunity  to  showcase their indigenous arts, crafts, and rich cultural heritage. The event has been designed not only to  promote  the  traditions  of  minority  communities  but  also  to  foster  an  innovative  and entrepreneurial  environment  for  artisans.  To  enhance  their  skills  in  areas  like  marketing, export  &  online  business,  design,  taxation  and  sales  etc.,  workshops  are  conducted  by  the Ministry, with support from the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), ensuring a holistic approach to empowering their talent and augmentation in their incomes. So far, the Ministry has organised 05 Lok Samvardhan Parvs, in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala.

(c): The USTTAD scheme was implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, therefore, no fund allocation was made to States/ UTs under the scheme, and projects were allocated from the year 2016-17 to 2018-19. Thereafter, only committed liabilities under the USTTAD are being discharged (from FY 2023-24, fund allocation was done for 5 erstwhile schemes combined together  under  PM  VIKAS  (Committed  Liabilities).  The  details  of  expenditure  under  the USTTAD  and  PM  VIKAS  (Committed  Liabilities)  scheme  during  the  last  five  years  is tabulated below:-

(All Amount in Crore)

| Year                          | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2022-23   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2023-24   | 2023-24   | 2024-25   | 2024-25   | 2024-25   |
|-------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Schem es                      | B E       | R E       | AE        | B E       | R E       | AE        | B E       | R E       | AE        | BE        | RE        | AE        | BE        | R E       | AE        |
| USTT AD                       | 6 0       | 6 0       | 56. 74    | 4 7       | 4 7       | 76. 68    | 4 7       | 4 7       | 10. 61    | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         |
| PM VIKA S Comm . Liabili ties | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 249. 85   | 215. 98   | 209. 42   | 244. 57   | 20 0      | 209. 43   |

Further, the USTTAD scheme was later integrated into the PM VIKAS scheme along with other skilling, education and women empowerment schemes and the PM VIKAS scheme was rolled out in Jan 2025.

(d):  Under  the  USTTAD  scheme,  NID  and  NIFT,  as  Knowledge  Partners  identified  35 languishing  craft  clusters  and  recorded  the  history,  processes,    product  ranges,  market scenarios along with key challenges and submitted it to the Ministry. The list of identified craft  clusters  is  placed  at Annexure  1 .  Under  the  scheme,  the  Ministry  also  organised HunarHaats for creating market linkages for artisans  and  craftspersons.  Under  Hunar  Haat opportunity was given to artisans/craftsperson and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and  market their handicrafts and indigenous products including the ones stated. HunarHaat generated employment and employment opportunities for artisans, crafts persons and  associated  persons  and  has  further  strengthened  their  market  linkages.  So  far,  41 HunarHaats have been organized since November 2016, at various locations throughout the country whereby more than 8 lakh artisans, craftspersons and people associated with them have been benefited. The details of Hunar Haats conducted till date is placed at Annexure 2 .

*****

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (D)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  776  FOR  ANSWER  ON  04.02.2026  REGARDING ' IMPLEMENTATION OF USTTAD SCHEME IN UTTAR PRADESH ' ASKED BY SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ

| Products and Craft Cluster - USTTAD   | Products and Craft Cluster - USTTAD   | Products and Craft Cluster - USTTAD   | Products and Craft Cluster - USTTAD      | Products and Craft Cluster - USTTAD   |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| S. No                                 | State                                 | Knowledge Partner                     | Craft Cluster                            | Craft name                            |
| 1                                     | Andhra Pradesh                        | NIFT                                  | Udayagiri                                | Wooden Cutlery                        |
| 2                                     | Assam                                 | NIFT                                  | Golaghat                                 | Textiles of Golaghat                  |
| 3                                     | Bihar                                 | NIFT                                  | Bhagalpur                                | Bhagalpur Weaving                     |
| 4                                     | Himachal Pradesh                      | NIFT                                  | Dharamshala                              | Tibetan Carpet                        |
| 5                                     | Jammu& Kashmir                        | NIFT                                  | Srinagar                                 | Tilla Embroidery                      |
| 6                                     | Karnataka                             | NIFT                                  | Bidar                                    | Bidriware                             |
| 7                                     | Karnataka                             | NIFT                                  | Chanapatna                               | Chanapatna Toys                       |
| 8                                     | Karnataka                             | NIFT                                  | Mysore                                   | Rosewood Inlay                        |
| 9                                     | Kerala                                | NIFT                                  | Beypore                                  | Wooden Ship Making                    |
| 10                                    | Madhya Pradesh                        | NIFT                                  | Maheshwar                                | Maheshwari                            |
| 11                                    | Madhya Pradesh                        | NIFT                                  | Bhopal                                   | BhopaliBatua                          |
| 12                                    | Maharashtra                           | NIFT                                  | Mumbai                                   | ParsiGara                             |
| 13                                    | Nagaland                              | NIFT                                  | Dimapur                                  | Textiles of Nagaland                  |
| 14                                    | Nagaland                              | NIFT                                  | Viswema                                  | Woodworks of Nagaland                 |
| 15                                    | Punjab                                | NIFT                                  | Patiala                                  | Phulkari                              |
| 16                                    | Punjab                                | NIFT                                  | Malerkotla                               | Tilla and KhosaJutti                  |
| 17                                    | Rajasthan                             | NIFT                                  | Udaipur                                  | Applique/Patchwork                    |
| 18                                    | Rajasthan                             | NIFT                                  | Pipar                                    | Block Printing                        |
| 19                                    | Tamil Nadu                            | NIFT                                  | Pulicat                                  | Palm Leaf Basketry                    |
| 20                                    | Telangana                             | NIFT                                  | Hyderabad                                | Lac Bangles                           |
| 21                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NIFT                                  | Varanasi                                 | Banaras Brocade                       |
| 22                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NIFT                                  | Lucknow                                  | Bone Carving                          |
| 23                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NIFT                                  | Lucknow                                  | Chikankari                            |
| 24                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NIFT                                  | Lucknow                                  | Kamdani                               |
| 25                                    | West Bengal                           | NIFT                                  | Barasat and Birbhum                      | Kantha                                |
| 26                                    | Andhra Pradesh                        | NID                                   | Nimmalakunta                             | Leather Puppetry                      |
| 27                                    | Goa                                   | NID                                   | Panaji                                   | Crochet                               |
| 28                                    | Jammu& Kashmir                        | NID                                   | Srinagar                                 | Paper Mache                           |
| 29                                    | Kerala                                | NID                                   | Kodungalloor, Thalayolaparambu, Thazhava | Screwpine Weaving                     |
| 30                                    | Ladakh                                | NID                                   | Likir, Leh                               | Likir Pottery                         |
| 31                                    | Manipur                               | NID                                   | Nungbi                                   | Black Pottery                         |
| 32                                    | Punjab                                | NID                                   | Jandiala Guru                            | Thathera/ Brass and Bronze            |
| 33                                    | Rajasthan                             | NID                                   | Bikaner                                  | Usta Leather craft                    |
| 34                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NID                                   | Firozabad                                | Glass Flamework                       |
| 35                                    | Uttar Pradesh                         | NID                                   | Varanasi                                 | Soft stone                            |

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (D)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  776  FOR  ANSWER  ON  04.02.2026  REGARDING ' IMPLEMENTATION OF USTTAD SCHEME IN UTTAR PRADESH ' ASKED BY SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ

## List of Hunar Haats conducted till date

|   S.No. | Hunar Haat venue                          | State          | Date                 |
|---------|-------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------------|
|       1 | India International Trade Fair, New Delhi | Delhi          | November, 2016       |
|       2 | Baba Kharak Singh Marg                    | Delhi          | February, 2017       |
|       3 | Puducherry                                | Puducherry     | September, 2017      |
|       4 | India International Trade Fair, New Delhi | Delhi          | November, 2017       |
|       5 | Islam Gymkhana, Mumbai                    | Maharashtra    | January, 2018        |
|       6 | Baba Kharak Singh Marg                    | Delhi          | February, 2018       |
|       7 | Prayagraj                                 | Uttar Pradesh  | September, 2018      |
|       8 | Puducherry                                | Puducherry     | October, 2018        |
|       9 | India International Trade Fair            | Delhi          | November, 2018       |
|      10 | BKC, Mumbai                               | Maharashtra    | December, 2018       |
|      11 | Baba Kharak Singh Marg, 2019              | Delhi          | January, 2019        |
|      12 | Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur               | Rajasthan      | August-1 Sept. 2019  |
|      13 | Prayagraj                                 | Uttar Pradesh  | November, 2019       |
|      14 | India International Trade Fair            | Delhi          | November, 2019       |
|      15 | Ahmedabad                                 | Gujrat         | December, 2019       |
|      16 | Mumbai                                    | Maharashtra    | December, 2019       |
|      17 | Lucknow                                   | Uttar Pradesh  | January, 2020        |
|      18 | Hyderabad                                 | Telangana      | January, 2020        |
|      19 | Indore                                    | Madhya Pradesh | February, 2020       |
|      20 | Ranchi                                    | Jharkhand      | February-March, 2020 |
|      21 | India Gate                                | Delhi          | March-2020           |
|      22 | Dilli Haat Pitampura                      | Delhi          | November-2020        |
|      23 | Rampur                                    | Uttar Pradesh  | December-2020        |
|      24 | Lucknow                                   | Uttar Pradesh  | Jan -Feb 2021        |
|      25 | Mysuru                                    | Karnataka      | February-2021        |
|      26 | JLN Delhi                                 | Delhi          | Feb - March 2021     |
|      27 | Bhopal                                    | Madhya Pradesh | March-2021           |
|      28 | Goa                                       | Goa            | March-April 2021     |
|      29 | Rampur                                    | Uttar Pradesh  | October-2021         |
|      30 | Dehradun                                  | Uttarakhand    | Oct -Nov 2021        |
|      31 | Vrindavan                                 | Uttar Pradesh  | November 2021        |
|      32 | Lucknow                                   | Uttar Pradesh  | November 2021        |
|      33 | India International Trade Fair            | Delhi          | November, 2021       |
|      34 | Surat                                     | Gujarat        | December, 2021       |
|      35 | JLN Stadium, New Delhi                    | Delhi          | Dec 2021- Jan, 2022  |
|      36 | Puducherry                                | Puducherry     | February 2022        |
|      37 | Hyderabad                                 | Telangana      | February- March 2022 |
|      38 | Guwahati                                  | Assam          | March, 2022          |
|      39 | Chandigarh                                | Punjab         | March - April 2022   |
|      40 | Mumbai                                    | Maharashtra    | April 2022           |
|      41 | Agra                                      | Uttar Pradesh  | May 2022             |