Gurumayum Shanti Devi and Maisnam Lalini Devi were conferred with the Shilp Guru Award and National Award respectively on November 28 by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Wednesday.
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Gurumayum Shanti Devi from Kalimai Mandir, Yaiskul Police Lane, received the Shilp Guru Award for 2018, for artistic textile craft; she is also a national awardee of 2006. She was awarded with a citation certificate, Tamul Patra and cash.
Maisnam Lalini Devi from Wangkhei Yonglan Leirak, Imphal East received the National Award for 2019 and was among 31 National Awardees of India. She received the National Award for promoting and preserving the endangered Shafee Lanfee craft. She is Manipur state awardee of 2008-9. She was awarded with a certificate, gold medal and cash.
Maisnam Lalini Devi has been striving for the promotion of indigenous 'Saphee Lanphee' and the award will be presented acknowledging her remarkable contributions towards the cause.
It may be noted that Gurumayum Shanti Devi is the third woman from Manipur to receive the Shilp Guru Award.
The awardees went to receive the award with assistant director of Handicraft, Mutum Sanjeet Kumar of Handicraft Service Centre, office of Development Commissioner, Union Textile Ministry, Imphal and deputy director (i/c), office of Development Commissioner, North Eastern Regional Office, Union Textile Ministry.
During the award presentation, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Distribution and Textiles; Rachna Shah, secretary, Textiles Ministry; Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Textiles Ministry, awardees from across India, and other dignitaries were present.
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