ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Women artisans made their presence felt at this year’s Lok Mela by winning 23 out of the total 49 awards at the concluding ceremony of the cultural extravaganza at Lok Virsa on Sunday.

Of the winners, at least two women artisans possessed Master’s degree. Though, this achievement is still incommensurate with the 50 per cent women population of the country, it is, nonetheless, a beginning of sorts, in bringing women artisans in the national mainstream. It is also praiseworthy that the process — at least at the Lok Mela level — has begun with common women who make handicrafts in rural areas.

After distributing cash awards amounting to Rs250,000 among 50 artisans, Culture Minister Ghazi Gulab Jamal, the chief guest, added two Rs20,000 each awards from his side for the best and the most deserving of the artisans attending the Mela.

He also gave away a Rs10,000 award to Ghulam Haidar Salar for excellence in Kashmiri metal work.

Ghulam Salar was earlier honoured on the opening day of the Mela on Nov 4, when a Dastar was placed on his head, declaring him the master craftsman of this year’s Mela.

In addition, 49 artisans were given cash awards of Rs5,000 each. They were Sabahuddin (wax printing), Hamida Bibi (embroidery), Tasneem (Hazara Phulkari), Mohammad Waseem (lacquer art), Shah Behram (Taghar weaving), Mohammad Ilyas (stone carving), Dost Mohammad (woodwork), Aziz Fatima (Balochi embroidery), Shamsa Khatoon (embroidery), Mah Jan (Takki weaving), Shad Bibi (Pokh work embroidery), Ms Mehnaz (embroidery), Ms Diameli (Klash basket making), Shange Rai and Fatima (Copeal Kalash cap making), Rehmat Karim (wooden spoon), Niaz Ahmad, Rahim Dad, and Fazal-i-Wahid (Swati shawl).

The culture department of Azad Kashmir government gave award to Deeba Rana, Aneesa Razzaq, Ghulam Hasan Sheshgar and Zulfiqar Ghazi.

The National Crafts Council’s awards went to Mohammad Riaz (lacquer art), Khalifa Irshad Beg (woodwork), Surriya Abdullah (tie-dye), Fahmeeda Amir Bux (embroidery), Haji Mohammad Rafiq and Syeda Robina Yasmin.

The British Council award was given to Fouzia Naheed (doll making), Shamshad Begum, (camel skin), and Mohammad Abdullah Chughtai (block printing)

The Sindh Cultural department sponsored 10 awards that were given to Raees Abdullah Beg (Sussi weaving), Qadir Buksh Soomro (blue pottery), Gopal Das (tie&dye), Sahib Dino (Lungi weaving), Samela (Durree weaving), Mohammad Bukhsh Soomro (lacquer art), Ms Siani (Khes weaving), Khan Chand (Sindhi shoes), Khadim Solangi (terra cota replicas), and Imdad Ali (block making).