National Handicraft Award Ceremony
Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani presided over the programme
Raipur, 14 September 2018
Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh felicitated veteran and renowned sculptors and craftsmen of the country at National Handicraft Award Ceremony organized by Handicraft Division of Union Textile Ministry and State Government’s Gramodyog Department today. Union Textile Minister Mrs. Smriti Zubin Irani presided over the programme. On the occasion, Gramodyog Minister Mr. Punnulal Mohile and Raipur MP Mr. Ramesh Bais were also present.
State Government’s Gramodyog Department Officials informed that this is National Handicraft Award Ceremony has been organized in Chhattisgarh’s capital city Raipur for the first time. On special request of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Union Textile Ministry decided to organize this event in Raipur. On the occasion, accomplished and veteran craftsmen of year 2016 were awarded Shilp Guru Award and National Award. Eight craftsmen received Shilp Guru Award 2016 namely Mr. Mohd Matloob of Delhi, Mr. Gulam Haider Mirza of Jammu-Kashmir, Mr. Roopam Mathru of Odisha, Mr. Gopal Saini of Punjab, Mr. Arjun Prajapati and Mr. Babulal Marotiya of Rajasthan, and Ms. Tripti Mukherjee of West Bengal. The 25 craftsmen, who received National Award 2016 on the occasion, are Ms Hema Devi of Bihar, Ms Mamta Devi of Delhi, Mr. Mohammad Yakub Khatri of Gujarat, Mr. Abraham Hasan Khatri of Gujarat, Ms Usha J Pawar, Vinita Prakash and Sarojini N Yasmi of Karnataka, Anubam Kalpana Devi of Manipur, Sukanti Swan of Odisha, D Venkatum of Telangana, Ms Kalpana Chitrakar of West Bengal, Mr. Khandu Shrivaslu of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. R Ravindram of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Sudheer Fadnes of Delhi, Mr. Rajendra Singh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Kamaljeet of Punjab, Mr. Sharad Kumar Pradhan of Odisha, Mr. Hasan Ahmed of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Amritlal Sirohiya, Mr. Rajendra Kumar, Mr. Gajendra Soni, Mohanlal Gujjar of Rajasthan, Mr. Tapas Kumar of West Bengal and Mr. Dhirendra Kumar of Bihar and Mr. Riyaz Ahmed Khan of Jammu Kashmir. Shilp Guru Award was started in year 2002 by Central Government, under which awardees receive Rs two lakh cash and a gold coin along with shawl, certificates and memento. Officials further informed that under Union Textile Ministry’s scheme, 18 craftsmen of Chhattisgarh have been awarded National Award in various crafts till date.This year, Mr. Ashok Kumar Chakradhari was felicitated with national merit certificate for clay art. Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board has awarded State-level Awards to 91 craftsmen for various crafts till date. After formation of state, number of craftsmen in Chhattisgarh has increased from 2600 to 17 thousand. This increase in number also shows the growing interest of youngsters in hanficraft. Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, Shabri Emporiums, Chhattisgarh Haat and Maati Kala Board has been established under Chhattisgarh Government’s Gramodyog Department for welfare of craftsmen. Bamboo art Project has been started in Gariaband, Mohla and Manpur, and Bastar Handicraft Development Project is being conducted in Kondagaon. Design Development and Monthly FinancialAid Scheme has also been started for the craftsmen. To promote handicraft in Chhattisgarh, Board has sent proposal of Integrated Design project worth Rs 26 crore 56 lakh, which will benefit two thousand craftsmen families.
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