Srinagar, Dec 9 : Four artisans from Jammu and Kashmir were conferred with national-level honours under the Shilp Guru Awards and National Awards for Handicrafts at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, officials said on Tuesday.
Two artisans from Kashmir received the National Award, which recognises excellence and sustained contribution in traditional handicrafts.
Khwaja Nazir Ali was awarded in Artistic Textiles (Sozni Shawl) for his work in Sozni embroidery, while Shri Manzoor Ahmad Khan received the award in Handmade Carpet for his contribution to Kashmir’s carpet weaving tradition.
In addition, two artisans were conferred with the Certificate of Excellence, which acknowledges high-quality craftsmanship and emerging mastery.
Mashkoora Hameed received the Certificate of Excellence in Sozni Shawl, and Mir Arshad was awarded for his work in Paper Mache, the officials said.
Raja Rahail Rashid, Assistant Director, Handicrafts Service Centre, Srinagar, said that this year 49 artisans from districts including Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, and Ganderbal had submitted their entries, of which four were selected for national recognition.
The awards ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Secretary (Textiles) Smt.
Neelam Shami Rao, and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Smt. Amrit Raj, along with artisans, exporters, designers, and industry representatives.
The awards highlight the role of Jammu and Kashmir’s artisans in preserving traditional crafts and underscore the significance of national initiatives in providing visibility and institutional support to the handicrafts sector, officials added.(KNS).
