Shilp Guru Award
Shilp Guru Award (शिल्प गुरु पुरस्कार)
The Shilp Guru Award, initiated by the Ministry of Textiles, is a prestigious recognition aimed at honoring master craftspersons in India. Established to celebrate the craftsmanship and dedication of these artisans, the award acknowledges their invaluable contributions to the preservation and promotion of India’s diverse craft heritage.
Overview of the Scheme
Launched in 2002 during the “Golden Jubilee Year of Handicrafts Resurgence in India,” the Shilp Guru Award stands as a testament to the exemplary work of legendary master craftspersons. These artisans are recognized not just for their skill but also for their pivotal role in revitalizing the handicrafts sector across the nation.
Benefits of the Award
The Shilp Guru Award comes with several advantages that support the continued excellence of the recipients:
- Monetary Prize: A cash award of ₹2,00,000.
- Gold Coin: One mounted gold coin.
- Shawl: One traditional shawl.
- Tamrapatra: One Tamrapatra, a traditional copper plate.
Furthermore, selected Shilp Gurus will receive financial assistance for innovation and product development, ensuring the creation of high-quality crafts. This support aligns with the parameters set forth in the Design & Technology Up-gradation scheme by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
Additionally, Shilp Gurus will:
- Engage in activities with Regional Development and Technology Centers (RD&TDCs).
- Receive support to participate in international seminars and exhibitions, fostering exchanges with global craft designers.
- Have monographs published highlighting their contributions to Indian art and craft.
- Be invited to join advisory committees related to RD&TDCs.
- Collaborate with esteemed institutions like NID, NIFT, IICT, and IICD in various craft-related activities.
- Be included in state-level committees for selecting national awardees.
- Be linked with exporters through organizations like EPCH and CEPC.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Shilp Guru Award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- The individual must be an Indian citizen.
- The applicant should be a master craftsperson who is either:
- A National Awardee or a State Awardee of exceptional standing, or
- A master craftsperson demonstrating extraordinary skills and significant contributions to the handicrafts sector.
- The applicant must be at least 55 years old.
- They should have a minimum of 20 years of experience in the field as of December 31 of the preceding year.
- Significant contributions to the welfare and development of the craft and its community are essential.
Note: A maximum of 10 Shilp Guru Awards will be granted annually.
Selection Criteria
The selection of candidates for the Shilp Guru Award will consider the following aspects:
- The excellence of craftsmanship, evaluated through submitted samples and photographs documenting each stage of the crafting process.
- Related achievements, assessed through biographical data and other relevant materials submitted by the artisan or sponsoring organizations.
- Special considerations will include:
- Whether the craft practiced is on the verge of extinction.
- Efforts made to revive a declining craft through product diversification or contemporary applications.
- Innovative designs introduced by the craftsman.
Application Procedure
How to Apply Offline
Interested applicants should follow these steps to apply for the Shilp Guru Award:
- Visit the District Industries Center (DIC), Directorate of Industries, or other designated offices like Regional Development Centers for Handicrafts (RD&TDC) during office hours to request a hard copy of the application form.
- Complete the application form by filling in all mandatory fields and attaching copies of all required documents (self-attested if necessary).
- Submit the filled and signed application form along with the necessary documents to the Assistant Labour Commissioner.
- Obtain a receipt or acknowledgment from the authority to whom the application was submitted, ensuring it includes the date, time of submission, and a unique identification number if applicable.
Selection Process
The selection process for the Shilp Guru Award follows a three-tier structure:
- Initial screening conducted at the state level for handicraft artisans.
- Recommended entries are evaluated by the Headquarters Level Selection Committee.
- The final assessment is made by the Central Level Selection Committee.
Official Information
For more details, please visit myScheme.gov.in.
Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
2. The applicant should be a master craftsperson who is either:
• A National Awardee or a State Awardee of exceptional standing, or
• A master craftsperson with extraordinary skills and immense contribution to the handicrafts sector.
3. The applicant should be at least 55 years old.
4. The master craftsperson should have a minimum of 20 years of experience in the field as of December 31st of the previous year.
5. The applicant should have made significant contributions to the welfare and development of the craft and the craft community.
Note: A maximum of 10 Shilp Guru Awards will be conferred each year.
Criteria for Selection:
The following are the main criteria which are to be kept in view for selection of craftsmen-
Excellence of craftsmanship (this can be judged from samples received along with the samples at least 4 photographs of each stage of processing of exhibits/other evidences or videography of the process of exhibits with may be submitted.
Related achievements (this may be judged from bio-data and other materials submitted by the craftsman/sponsoring organisations).
Special consideration may also be given while selecting the craftsman and the crafts to the following:
If the craft practiced is a languishing craft.
If there has been a noteworthy effort in term of reviving a languishing craft by way of product diversification or application to contemporary use. In other words, efforts made in order to achieve a breakthrough in the development of craft should be given due consideration.
Design innovation by the craftsmen.
Photographs of processing of others exhibits of different stages produced by the applicant.
Benefits
Award Contents:
Cash Prize of ₹2,00,000/-
One Mounted Gold Coin
One Shawl
One Tamrapatra
Note: In addtion, appropriate financial assistance will be given to each selected Shilp Guru to innovate and create new products of high level of excellence, high aesthetic value and high quality befitting the stature of the Guru. This assistance will be give as per parameters contained in Design & Technology Up-gradation scheme of Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
In addition to above:
Shilp Gurus shall actively be associated with activities of RD&TDCs.
Shilp Gurus will be assisted for participating the International Seminar/ Exhibitions in India/abroad for exchange of ideas between Indian Shilp Gurus and internationally reputed craft designers.
Monographs shall be published on Shilp Gurus who have exceptionally contributed in the field of development, promotion and process of India Art & Craft.
Shilp Gurus shall be included in the Advisory Committees of the concerned RD&TDC.
Reputed institutions like NID, NIFT,IICT, IICD etc. will be requested to associate Shilp Gurus in their crafts activities.
Shilp Gurus shall be included in State Level Committee for selection of National Award.
EPCH & CEPC shall be requested to bring about a strong linkage of Shilp Gurus with the exporters.
Application Process
Apply OfflineStep 1: The interested applicant should visit (during office hours) the District Industries Center (DIC), Directorate of Industries, or other designated offices such as Regional Development Centers for Handicrafts (RD&TDC) and request a hard copy of the prescribed format of the application form from the staff exclusively entrusted to issue and collect filled-in applications.
Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
Step 3: Submit the duly filled and signed application form along with the documents to the Assistant Labour Commissioner.
Step 4: Request a receipt or acknowledgment from the concerned authority to whom the application has been submitted. Ensure that the receipt contains essential details such as the date and time of submission, and a unique identification number (if applicable).
Selection procedure:
The selection procedure for selecting the items for Shilp Guru Award will be through a three – tier procedure.
The first stage selection would be at the State Level in case of Handicrafts artisans.
In the second stage of the selection process the handicraft entries recommended by various State Level Selection Committees would be next screened by the Headquarter Level Selection Committee.
In the third and final stage of the selection process the handicrafts entries recommended by Head Quarters Level Selection Committee would be next screen by Central Level Selection Committee.
References & Official Links
Scheme Details
| Full Name | Shilp Guru Award |
| Short Title | SGA |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Ministry | Ministry Of Textiles |
| Categories | Skills & Employment |
| States | All India |
| Gender | All |
| Age Range | 55 — Any years |
| Area | Both |
| Source | www.myscheme.gov.in ↗ |
Deepika Raikwar
Deepika Raikwar is an Education Analyst and scholarship researcher who focuses on public welfare and merit-based scholarships. She simplifies complex eligibility rules, deadlines, and application processes to help common people access reliable funding opportunities worldwide.
View all posts by Deepika Raikwar →