Odisha Youth Receives Indian Achiever’s Award 2021

Odisha Youth Receives Indian Achiever’s Award 2021

Odia designer Sujit Meher has given a new identity to Odisha handloom by branding it at the international level. For promoting Odisha handloom, Sujit has received the Indian Achiever’s Award 2021 in the category of Young Entrepreneur by the Government of India and Indian Achiever Forum. He is the first Odia to have been felicitated with this award.

Sujit Meher is a young fashion designer and entrepreneur based in Bangalore, India, who graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), Bangalore.

“The Government of India is emphasising to take the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme forward though the Make In India scheme. I got awarded for my contribution towards exporting Indian handlooms globally,” he informed. 

Despite coming from the most backward region of the country, where people struggle to make ends meet, Sujit developed the interest to study fashion and got selected to the prestigious NIFT Bangalore. After successful completion of the course, he started working with the prestigious Bollywood film production house EROS International based in Mumbai. He is often associated with NGOs to support varieties of causes and spread the awareness of Indian traditional handlooms, designs and other Indian arts.

Sujit has initiated the way to send Odisha handloom sarees and dress materials to foreign countries.

He is a multi-talented orator, motivational speaker, writer and a storyteller, who penned a bestselling novel in 2015, titled “Dreams beyond Grades” that talks about his own journey from rags to riches and became a role model for everyone.

Sujit started working on handlooms in 2013. “I am planning to shift base to Odisha so that all the work can be done there. I want to involve more people from Odisha in my work. I want proper marketing of their work,” said the 31-year-old Sujit, whose native place is Dhamagarh, a small town in Kalahandi district.