Karnataka government pledges Rs 5 crore to refurbish JSS Urban Haat

Mysuru: In a move that is indicative of its intent to encourage handicraft industry, and support traditional craft and artisans, who have been engaged in these professions for generations, the state government has pledged a sum of Rs 5 crore towards refurbishing the JSS Urban Haat in Hebbal Industrial Area in Mysuru. JSS Mahavidyapeetha, which manages the handicraft market, is planning on utilising the funds to improve facilities for both artisans, and visitors. The state government’s support for JSS Urban Haat since it is the only platform of its kind in Karnataka, where handicraft artisans can meet and sell their wares directly to customers.
The haat’s story began in 2007, when JSS Mahavidyapeetha took the lead in setting up a space for the sale of traditional products. Under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model, it was agreed that the Union ministry of textiles would account for 70% of the cost of establishing JSS Urban Haat, while the Mahavidyapeetha would provide 15% of the funds and the state Karnataka government the remaining portion. The JSS Urban Haat campus presently comprises 36 permanent stalls, one hall that is used for exhibitions, a food court and an administrative block. The structure was built at the cost of Rs 2.75 crore.

JSS Mahavidyapeetha executive secretary CG Betsurmath said that the haat had hosted as many as 100 expos in the 12 years since its inauguration in 2007. “Of these, 57 were sponsored events, while the remaining 43 were not. The haat has succeeded in bringing more than 6,700 artisans from across the country under one roof. The expos that have been hosted at JSS Urban Haat have cumulatively achieved a turnover of Rs 23.9 crore. Moreover, we are equipping artisans with the required skills to make garments that can be exported,” Betsurmath told TOI.

On plans to expand the facility, Betsurmath said that the plan was to keep the haat running all 365 days of the year, with at least a 100 artisans plying their wares at any given juncture. “We need to focus on attracting tourists, particularly during weekends. We need to organise more supportive programmes, by conducting exhibitions of works of renowned artisans at an amphitheatre, which we are hoping to build to accommodate 600 to 1,000 people. We need to build a dormitory close to the haat to house the artisans when they visit the city for the expos. As the haat has grown, the pressure is now on how to sustain the model. We will soon develop a detailed project report (DPR), and start working on the same soon. Our plan is to complete the refurbishment in a year,” he added.