Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs - Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand state government scheme
Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs is an Uttarakhand recognition scheme under which registered artisans and weavers whose craftsmanship stands out are given a state award carrying a cash prize and a certificate. Nominations are routed through the District Industries Centre and the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council.
What is the Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs?
Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs is a recognition scheme of the Government of Uttarakhand for registered artisans and weavers whose craftsmanship stands out. It sits with the Directorate of Industries and is delivered in practice through the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council (UHHDC), the body the state describes as the facilitator that motivates, guides and organises artisans and creates platforms for direct interaction between makers and buyers.
The scheme's logic is simple. Uttarakhand's traditional crafts, hill woollens, cotton handloom, silk, Ringal cane work, DIKI natural fibre, the Aipan folk art of Kumaon, copperware, wooden craft and wax work: survive in the hands of a small number of highly skilled people who are competing against mass-produced substitutes. A state award gives a master craftsperson public standing, a verifiable credential to show buyers, and a cash prize, all of which matter more to a one-person workshop than another line of credit would.
What the award carries
- A cash prize for the selected artisan or weaver.
- A certificate or citation naming the artisan and the craft.
- Public recognition through the department's platforms, which is the practical marketing value of the award.
Who can be recognised, and who cannot
Can be considered:
- Registered artisans and weavers working in Uttarakhand's handloom and handicraft sector.
- Craftspeople whose submitted work demonstrates exceptional skill, originality and finish in a recognised craft line.
- Residents of Uttarakhand practising the craft within the state.
Cannot be considered / not eligible:
- Unregistered craftspeople. Registration as an artisan or weaver is the entry condition; an unregistered person should register with the handloom or handicraft authority through the District Industries Centre first.
- Traders, retailers and exporters who sell craft products without making them. The award is for craftsmanship, not for turnover.
- Firms and factories producing machine-made goods. The scheme addresses hand skill in the handloom and handicraft sector.
- Anyone seeking finance rather than recognition. This scheme carries no loan, no margin money and no capital subsidy.
What documents are required?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan / weaver registration | Yes | The entry condition for consideration |
| Uttarakhand domicile or residence proof | Yes | The award recognises craftsmanship within the state |
| Craft samples or photographs | Yes | The substance of the nomination: selection turns on the work |
| Identity proof | Yes | Aadhaar or other government photo ID |
| Bank account passbook | Yes | The cash component is credited to the artisan's account |
How to apply for the artisan award
- Register as an artisan or weaver if you are not already registered. Approach the District Industries Centre of your district, or the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council at the Directorate of Industries, Industrial Area Patel Nagar, Dehradun 248001.
- Watch for the award notice. The award is announced for a given year, and nominations open for a stated window. Notices appear on the Directorate of Industries site, doi.uk.gov.in, and through the District Industries Centres.
- Prepare the craft submission. Select your strongest piece and photograph it clearly from several angles. Where the craft allows, be ready to submit the physical sample, because the selection is made on the work itself.
- Submit the nomination with your artisan registration, domicile proof, identity proof, bank passbook copy and the craft samples or photographs, to the District Industries Centre or to UHHDC.
- Keep the acknowledgement and follow up with the same office, since there is no online tracking for this scheme.
Why a nomination fails
- Artisan not registered. This is the most common reason a strong craftsperson is left out — the work qualifies but the paperwork does not exist.
- Nomination submitted after the window closed for that award year.
- Poor documentation of the craft. Blurred photographs and no sample give the selection committee nothing to judge.
- Wrong category. A trader submitting an artisan's work, or a machine-made product entered as handicraft, is set aside at the first check.
- Bank details missing, which holds up the cash component even after selection.
What could not be verified
Uttarakhand does not publish a standalone page for this award on the Directorate of Industries or UHHDC websites. Two specifics therefore could not be confirmed against an official source and are deliberately not stated here:
- The exact cash prize amount attached to the award.
- The number of awards given each year and the current year's nomination window and closing date.
Both are announced by the department for each award year. Confirm them with the Directorate of Industries on 0135-2728227 or with your District Industries Centre before preparing a submission. No figure has been invented to fill that gap.
If you want finance rather than recognition
Artisans often reach this scheme while actually looking for capital. The Government of Uttarakhand runs separate schemes for that:
- Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana, bank finance for a project of up to Rs 25 lakh in manufacturing and up to Rs 10 lakh in the service and business sector, with a 25 per cent margin-money subsidy in Category A districts, capped at Rs 6.25 lakh for manufacturing and Rs 2.50 lakh in the service sector.
- Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). A centrally sponsored credit-linked subsidy scheme, implemented in the state by the Uttarakhand Khadi and Village Industries Board.
- Uttarakhand Oon Yojana, for wool spinners and weavers, giving training, a charkha, wool, wages at Khadi Commission rates and a 25 per cent annual bonus.
Help and contacts
- Directorate of Industries, Uttarakhand: 0135-2728227, toll-free 7618544555
- Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council: 0135-2728227, 0135-2728272; Directorate of Industries, Industrial Area Patel Nagar, Dehradun 248001; uhhdc-ua[at]nic[dot]in
- District Industries Centre of your district, for artisan registration and nomination
- Uttarakhand CM Helpline: 1905
There is no fee for artisan registration or for submitting a nomination, and no agent can secure the award for a payment.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
What is the Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs in Uttarakhand?
The Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs recognises exceptional craftsmanship among registered artisans and weavers in Uttarakhand by giving a state award with a cash prize and a citation. It is a recognition and morale scheme rather than a subsidy or loan scheme.
Who can be considered for the award?
Registered artisans and weavers working in Uttarakhand's handloom and handicraft sector can be considered, on the strength of the quality and originality of their work. Registration with the handloom or handicraft authority is the entry condition, so an unregistered craftsperson should register first.
Is this a loan or subsidy scheme?
No. The Award Scheme to Encourage Entrepreneurs gives recognition and a cash prize, not working capital. An artisan looking for finance to set up or expand a unit should look at Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana or the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme instead.
Where do I submit a nomination?
Submit it through the District Industries Centre of your district or through the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council, which the state describes as the facilitator that motivates, guides and organises artisans. The Council's office is at the Directorate of Industries, Industrial Area Patel Nagar, Dehradun 248001.
How is the winner selected?
Selection is made by the department on the merit of the craft work submitted, judged on skill, originality and finish, rather than on turnover or the size of the artisan's business. There is no written examination and no interview.
What does the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council do?
The Council is the apex body for handloom and handicraft development in Uttarakhand and acts as a facilitator to motivate, guide and organise artisans, and to create platforms for direct interaction between makers and buyers. It also runs the Himadri emporium network for marketing the state's crafts.
Which crafts does Uttarakhand's handicraft sector cover?
Uttarakhand's recognised crafts include woollen and cotton handloom, silk, natural fibre work such as Ringal and DIKI, the folk art of Aipan, copperware, wooden craft and wax work. These are the craft lines the Council promotes and the pool from which artisans are recognised.
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