Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is visiting a stall, along with Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, at the exhibition during the Swadeshi Mela event at India Gate in New Delhi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Delhi government has decided to increase the award money for the State Handicraft Awards Scheme by three times, as Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Saturday that the winners of Rajya Shilpkaar Puraskar and Rajya Dakshata Puraskar will take home ₹1,00,000 and ₹75,000 respectively. This initiative, he said, was cleared by the Delhi Cabinet to promote “Vocal for Local”, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India campaigns. This is the first overhaul to the award in 12 years.
“Earlier, the prize did not reflect the true value of craftsmanship in today’s economy. By enhancing both the monetary and symbolic value of the awards, we hope to inspire the next generation of artisans to innovate, preserve, and promote Delhi’s rich craft heritage,” Mr. Sirsa said while making the announcement.
Apart from increasing the prize money, more categories have been added to include craftspeople, especially women, young talent, and specially-abled artisans. Mr. Sirsa said, “We are introducing new categories for startups, young artisans, and design innovation, while ensuring that traditional crafts get their due respect and recognition.” Six Rajya Shilpkaar Puraskar will be awarded each year, with one exclusively for women. 18 Rajya Dakshata Puraskar will be awarded across diverse craft disciplines.
Published – October 12, 2025 01:09 am IST
