Awards to Master Craft Persons 

            To encourage the Master craft persons, the Central Government felicitate them with National Award and Merit certificate since 1965. The State government has also been giving State Handicrafts Awards to the Master craft persons of the state since 1973. A Design Competition Award was introduced in the year 1995 to encourage the Master craft persons to develop new designs keeping in view the contemporary taste and demand in the market. 

            The state is proud of Padma Bhusan Sj. Raghunath Mohapatra (Stone Carving), Padma Shree Sj. Sudarsan Sahoo (Stone Carving) and Padma Shree Sj. Kunja Bihari Meher (Art Textiles) who have been honoured by the President of India for their achievement in the field of handicrafts. 

            The number of master craft persons felicitated till 2000 are given in Table 1.14. 

TABLE -1.14 

 

Number of Master craft persons awarded

Award

Upto1997

During 1998

During 1999

During 2000

During 2001

Total

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

National Award

64

-

2

1

4

71

National Award Merit Certificate

38

4

3

-

1

46

State Award

52

3

3

3

3

64

State Award Merit Certificate

42

4

5

5

5

61

State Design Award

14

5

5

5

5

34

TOTAL

210

16

18

14

18

276

 Awards were given in the following crafts:- 

                                Appliqué                                 Lacquer Work

                                Art Textile                              Paddy Craft

                                Brass Work                             Papier Mache

                                Cane & Bamboo                      Pattachitra & Palm Leaf Engraving

                                Coir Toys                               Ritual Painting

                                Dhokra Casting                       Sea Shell & Solapith

                                Durry Carpet                          Silver Filigree

                                Golden Grass                          Stone Carving

                                Horn Work                              Terracotta