Ministry of Textiles Announces 2024 National Handloom Awards to Honour Excellence.
Awards
On National Handloom Day, 7 August 2024, the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) presented 22 awards, including the prestigious Sant Kabir and National Handloom Awards, to weavers and master craftspersons. This initiative highlights India’s rich handloom heritage and the sector’s contribution to millions of rural livelihoods.
- Two weavers from Telangana, Gajam Narmada and Guda Pawan, earned acclaim—one achieving a remarkable ₹8 crore turnover. Their work underscores the commercial viability of traditional weaving communities.
- Named after the 15th-century poet, the Sant Kabir Award celebrates master weavers who sustain traditional craftsmanship. Winners receive a gold coin, shawl, citation, and a ₹6 lakh grant to develop ten new high-quality products over one year.
- The handloom industry employs 3.5–4.5 million weavers, 70–72% of whom are women. It generates ₹37,000 crore annually and exports worth ₹2,500 crore, making it vital for rural economies and cultural preservation.
Main Point :- (i) Under MoT programmes like Bunkar & Karigar Utthan, over 3,600 artisans have been upskilled in 100 clusters by July 2024. The Shilp Didi Mahotsav further empowered 100 women artisans through marketing opportunities, including showcases at Dilli Haat and INA.
(ii) The Government introduced schemes like GeM onboarding, Design Resource Centres (DRCs), Handloom Producer Companies, and e-commerce collaborations to enhance weavers’ market access. Seven GI tags were awarded from April 2023–March 2024, protecting regional products.
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