National Handicraft Award to Madur Mats

• 25 Aug 2021

Why in News

Recently, the National Handicraft Award was given to two women from West Bengal in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of crafts, ‘Madur floor mats’.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • Shilp Guru Award, National Award and National Certificate of Excellence are one of the highest awards for handicraft artisans in the country.
    
    • They are presented by the President of India.
  • Shilp Guru Award was instituted in the year 2002 on the occasion of Golden Jubilee year of handicrafts resurgence in India.
  • While the National Award was instituted in the year 1965 and the National Certificate of Excellence was instituted in the year 1967.
  • Shilp Guru is the country’s highest award in the field of handicrafts given to artisans aged above 50 with 20 years of experience.
  • Similarly, National Award is conferred on a craftsperson in recognition of his/her outstanding contribution towards the development of crafts and who is above the age of 30 years and is having 10 years of experience in the field of handicrafts.
  • And the National Certificate of Excellence is conferred on Master craftspersons in recognition of their body of work, work undertaken to promote the crafts, dissemination of the same and his/her skill level and who is above the age of 30 years and is having 10 years experience in the field of handicrafts.
• Madur Floor Mats:
  
  • An intrinsic part of the Bengali lifestyle, Madur mats or Madhurkathi are made of natural fibres.
  • It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI Registry in April 2018.
  • It is a rhizome-based plant (Cyperus tegetum or Cyperus pangorei) found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur of West Bengal.
• Other Items with GI Tags From Bengal:
  
  • Wooden Mask of Kushmandi, Purulia Chau Mask, Gobindobhog Rice, Tulapanji Rice, Bengal Patachitra, Darjeeling Tea, etc.

Source: TH