Government allocates Rs 13,000 crore for five years
Jamshedpur: In a significant move aimed at uplifting traditional artisans and craftsmen, the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana was officially launched on Sunday in East Singhbhum district. The launch ceremony took place at Birsa Munda Town Hall in Sidhgora and saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, Minister of Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare, and Disaster Management Department, Banna Gupta, and MP Vidyut Varan Mahato, among others.
Deputy Development Commissioner Manish Kumar delivered a welcoming address, expressing gratitude to all attendees, including officials, media personnel, artisans, and the general public. He underscored the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, designed to provide financial support and advanced equipment to traditional craftsmen and artisans.
Highlighting the benefits of the scheme, Manish Kumar outlined the following key components: Skill Training: Beneficiaries will receive basic skill training with a daily stipend of Rs 500 during the training period. Tool Kit: After completing their training, artisans will be provided with a tool kit worth Rs 15,000.
Low-Interest Loans: The scheme offers collateral-free loans of Rs 1 lakh in the first phase and up to Rs 2 lakh in the second phase at a low-interest rate of 5 percent. Identity Cards: Artisans will be issued Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma identity cards.
The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana covers artisans and craftsmen working in 18 traditional disciplines, including carpenters, boat makers, blacksmiths, locksmiths, goldsmiths, sculptors, cobblers, masons, woodworkers, and more. The scheme aims to replicate the success of East Singhbhum in the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme at the national level.
Director Industries Arava Rajkamal elaborated on the scheme, emphasizing the provision of free training and Vishwakarma ID cards for artisans. The training process comprises basic training, followed by advanced training, enabling beneficiaries to access loans.
Divisional Commissioner Manoj Kumar praised the stipend offered to artisans during their training, highlighting its potential to provide employment opportunities.
Minister Banna Gupta emphasized the scheme’s importance for East Singhbhum district and its potential to elevate traditional craftsmen to new heights of development, similar to the achievements under other state-level schemes.
Union Minister of State L. Murugan hailed the scheme as a boon for traditional craftsmen, offering financial strength and skill enhancement. He noted that the government has allocated Rs 13,000 crore for five years under this scheme, benefiting 18 categories of workers. Furthermore, he announced incentives for digital transactions and international branding and packaging support to expand sales potential.
The live program was telecast from New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, along with the scheme’s portal and digital toolkit. The Prime Minister elucidated the scheme’s benefits, leaving attendees inspired.