Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a special programme organised by the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council at the Chief Sevak Sadan, Chief Minister’s residence, where he honoured artisans and weavers for their outstanding contributions.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister inspected various stalls showcasing local handicrafts before presenting the prestigious Uttarakhand Shilp Ratna Award to 11 artisans from across the state. Among those honoured were Janaki Devi and Bhagirathi Devi from Uttarkashi, Indra Singh from Bageshwar, Laxman Singh and Bhupendra Singh Bisht from Almora, Jeevan Chandra Joshi and Mohan Chandra Joshi from Haldwani, Janaki Bisht from Nainital, Jagdish Pandey from Haldwani, Pradeep Kumar from Chamoli, Guddi Devi from Chamoli, and Mahimanand Tiwari from Uttarkashi.
The programme began with the Chief Minister paying tribute to those who lost their lives in recent disasters and expressing condolences to the affected families. He assured that the state government remains committed to carrying out rehabilitation work with both sensitivity and urgency.
Our correspondent adds that CM Dhami praised Uttarakhand’s traditional weaving and handicraft skills, describing artisans and weavers as custodians of the state’s cultural heritage. He highlighted the global recognition earned by products such as the woollen shawls of Harsil, the Thulma of Munsyari and Dharchula, the tweed of Almora, the Pankhi of Chinka, and the designs of the Pichora. He further noted the rising demand for textiles made from hemp and bamboo fibres across the country.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister credited national initiatives like “Vocal for Local,” “Local to Global,” and “Make in India” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for empowering artisans socially and economically. He also underlined the role of flagship schemes such as the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, the National Handloom Development Programme, and the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman in supporting holistic growth of weavers and craftspeople.
Our correspondent adds that the state government is reinforcing these efforts with schemes like the Shilpi Pension Yojana, Shilp Ratna Awards, cluster empowerment projects, skill development training, exhibitions, fairs, and e-commerce platforms to boost marketing and outreach. CM Dhami reminded citizens of the Prime Minister’s call to prefer indigenous products, stressing that such choices strengthen the resolve for an Atmanirbhar Bharat while energising artisans, farmers, and local producers.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Uttarakhand’s artisans and weavers, with their creativity and tradition, will play a pivotal role in making the state self-reliant and positioning it as a leader in handicrafts nationally.
The event was also attended by Council Vice-Chairman Virendra Datt Semwal, MLAs Sarita Ary and Suresh Gadiya, Child Commission Chairperson Dr. Geeta Khanna, Industry Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, Director General of Industries Dr. Saurabh Gaharwar, and artisans from across the state.
