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GUWAHATI: Four awardees from Assam were honoured by President Droupadi Murmu during the National Handloom Day celebrations held on August 7, with the state securing two Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and two National Handloom Awards.
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The Sant Kabir Handloom Awards, the highest honour in the handloom sector, were conferred on Runima Chetiya Choudhury from Kamrup (Metro) for her Muga Silk Saree and Jyoti Bhuyan from Guwahati for her Natural Dyed Eri Silk Saree. Both were recognised in the weaving category.
Assam also received two National Handloom Awards. Divyang weaver Riti Doley received the award in the Assam Weaving Divyang Weaver category for her Silk Gero. Adding to Assam's achievements, M/s Marvella Associates of Sualkuchi received the National Award in the Start-up Ventures/Producer Company category, recognising its contribution to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the handloom sector.
A total of 22 awardees, comprising three Sant Kabir Handloom Awardees and 19 National Handloom Awardees, were felicitated for their exceptional contribution to preserving, promoting and advancing India's rich handloom traditions.
The awards were presented in the presence of Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, senior government officials, master weavers, designers, exporters, artisans and other representatives of the handloom industry.
Instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA) component of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), the awards are among the country's highest recognitions for excellence in the handloom sector.
The National Handloom Awards recognise weavers and other stakeholders for excellence in craftsmanship, innovation, design development, product quality and market outreach, while promoting India's diverse handloom traditions.
Awardees in the weaving category were selected through a rigorous multi-level evaluation process involving Zonal, Headquarters and Central Level Selection Committees comprising technical experts, professionals and senior government officials.
The recognition of the four awardees highlights Assam's enduring legacy in Muga and Eri silk weaving and underscores the state's significant contribution to India's rich handloom heritage.