Ministry of Textiles, Government of India recently honoured 12 weavers and artisans from different part of India. Working in handicrafts and handloom sector, some of these artisans are physically challenged but are masters in their craft, while few of them are successful entrepreneurs providing employment as well as training to others also.
TahiraMiyan of Godda (Jharkhand) is blind but works on Dobby weaving and weaves handloom products in 2, 4, 6 pedal weaving.
KM KangjamLebina Chanu,from Imphal East (Manipur), suffered febrile convulsion at the age of 5 months, making her partially paralysed with speech disability. However, she started learning weaving from her mother using her paralysed leg and hand today she can weave independently and produce beautiful designs in Rani phee.
Rituraj Dewan belongs to Kamrup Rural (Assam) and after completion of Master degree in Zoology and working with MNCs in Mumbai, Rituraj returned to his hometown Guwahati and started working with the tribal women of Rani Block in Kamrup (R) District for the socio-economic development of the poor sector. Thereafter, he has started business of handloom weaving in Loharghat area of Kamrup (R) district and setup two handloom production centres and engaged 50 tribal women for the production of hand-woven diversified products with Eri silk for the exports market.
Achoubi Devi of Imphal Eastis a traditional hereditary widow weaver of fine count yarn. Under her proprietorship, 100 women weavers (including widow and BPL) are working together.
Jogesh Choudhury from Kamrup Rural (Assam) is working as a master weaver for last 20 years in Sualkuchi. He is expert in design and pattern making and has developed wide range of products as per market demand.
Hannah Marak is an expert weaver of Kamrup (R) district and is involved in the production of handloom fabrics especially in Eri Silk.
Uzma Khatoon of Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) was honoured for metal e Engaged in metal engraving from her childhooddays, shehas trained many women and produced diversified products in metal craft.
Bajrang Lal Suthar of Bikaner (Jaipur) was awarded in painting craft category. Suffering from paralysis due to brain stroke, 60per cent of his body is passive since 1994, but what makes him unique is his expertise in painting craft with thumb and only two fingers.
Karan Bhoja Marvada,a native of Kutch (Gujarat), is known for expert leather work and uses Jari Kaam & Torni techniques of leather craftsmanship.
Basanti Devi is practicing Lace craft sincelast 9 years and has mobilised many women artisans of her locality to work in group. She also played a significant role in forming Cooperative Society namely Van Utpadan Sahayog Samiti.
Hiralal Karmakar of Bankura (West Bengal) is a successful entrepreneur practicing stone carving craft sincelast 4 decades. He has also been running online business through Amazon successfully.
Mohammed Shariff of Channapatna (Karnataka) is handicapped but is practicing the Lacquer ware craft since childhood. He started his own unit with 5 local artisans and gave them training & guidance to make a career in handicraft sector.
