Two women Gauri Rani Jana and Gauri Bala Das from Sabang in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinpur district have been given the National Handicraft Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of crafts.
- They were honoured for their skills in making madur floor mats that are unique to West Bengal.
- Madur mats are made of natural fibres.
- Madurkathi was awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry in April 2018.
- Madurkathi is a rhizome-based plant (Cyperus tegetum or Cyperus pangorei) found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur.
