Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani today presented ‘Shilp Guru’ and National Award to Master craft persons at a function held at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh.
Eight ‘Shilp guru’ and 25 National awards were presented for the year 2016. Shilp Guru’ is the highest award in the Handicraft sector in India.
Addressing the function, the Textile Minister Smriti Irani said that the handicraft export has witnessed a year-on-year growth and in last four years handicraft items worth Rs. 1 lakh 26 thousand crores had been exported from India. This not only popularized Indian culture in the foreign countries but also financially strengthened the crafts persons of the country.
She said during last one and half year Identity cards have been provided to about 17 lakh craft persons. This will enable them to avail benefit of insurance and other government schemes.
