Vice President confers Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftspersons

Tags: Awards

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 28 November gave away Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftspersons for 2017, 2018, and 2019 at a function in New Delhi.

Important facts

• Due to the Corona Pandemic, the awards for the last three years are being presented together.

• These awards are presented every year to great master craftsmen of handicrafts whose work has contributed to the preservation of the country's rich and diverse craft heritage.

• The awardees represent almost all the states and union territories of the country as well as different craft styles from different places.

• India is one of the major handicraft hubs of the world and its handicrafts export is increasing continuously.  

• Handicrafts provide livelihood to lakhs of people in rural areas and also become a means of empowering the underprivileged.

National Awards for master craftspersons

• The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has been implementing the scheme of National Awards for Master Craftsmen since 1965, in addition to which the Shilp Guru Awards were instituted in 2002.

• Its main objective is to give new identity to the excellent craftsmen in the field of handicrafts.

• The awardees represent almost all the states and union territories of the country as well as different craft styles from different places.