Lucknow: In a bid to connect last mile artisans with business owners and promoters Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) organized an artisans fair – GyanSetu Hunar Utsav 2023. Taking forward the mantle of Skill India, artisans and craftswomen from six districts of Uttar Pradesh were invited to showcase their products and build connections with promoters to ensure a steady line of business orders. More than 800 handmade items were put on display.

Notable among the promoters, Chandar Prakash, Runa Banerjee, Shurti Shandilya, Madhvi Kukreja, IB Singh, members from Lion’s Club, Ruth Chokarvarty, Vaani and many others.

The event commenced with a meeting of entrepreneurs from the city. Dr Urvashi Sahni, CEO and founder of SHEF said, “We work with the marginalized communities where talent and skills exist. We have organized Hunar Utsav to bridge the connection between artisans and craftswomen from our communities to all the entrepreneurs and businesses in Lucknow. Our goal is to economically empower women, enabling them to achieve independence and take control of their lives.”

Ms Tanmai Chaturvedi, GyanSetu program manager said, “We work with 70 distinct communities and these communities are full of skilled artisans. The Hunar Utsav is to celebrate their skills and their talents and connect them to businesses so that they can earn. ”

The Hunar Utsav showcased chikankari, zardozi, knitting, handcrafted items and many other products. In October 2021, SHEF launched its skill development program in collaboration with Laxmi Smriti Vidyadaan Sansthan and Jan Shikshan Sansthan, operating under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in Lucknow at Itaunja village. The skill development center was successful and five graduates from the GyanSetu Skill Development Center opened a tailoring unit in Itaunja village.