Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched ‘PM Vishwakarma Scheme’ for traditional artisans and craftspeople on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, from New Delhi today. The Prime Minister also launched the PM Vishwakarma logo, tagline and portal. He also released a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and video on the occasion. The Prime Minister distributed Vishwakarma Certificates to 18 beneficiaries. The event took place at approximately 70 venues across the nation, as part of the whole-of-government strategy to increase beneficiary awareness.

The Prime Minister underlined the contribution and importance of the Vishwakarmas in the everyday life of the country. He remarked that Vishwakarmas will always remain significant in society, no matter the advancements made in technology. He said that it is the need of the hour that Vishwakarmas are recognised and supported.  He further said that the world over big companies sub-let their work to small enterprises. “This outsourced work should come to our Vishwakarma friends and they become a part of the global supply chain, we are working for this. That is why this scheme is an effort to take the Vishwakarma friends into the modern age”, the Prime Minister said. (Link for detailed release:  https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1958169)

As the Indian economy includes self-employed artisans and craftspeople, who engage in various occupations like blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, carpentry, sculpting etc., the Prime Minister’s sustained focus is on uplifting the people engaged in traditional crafts. These skills are passed down through a Guru-Shishya tradition within families and informal groups by Vishwakarmas working with their hands and tools. The objectives of the scheme lay emphasis on:

• The preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of traditional crafts, and,
• Assisting artisans in transitioning to formal economy and integrating them into global value chains.

Taking part in the launch event from Ranchi, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda said that India's artisans and craftspeople use their hands and tools to decorate and beautify the nation, while strengthening the economy and creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Hence, to benefit those specialising in these traditional crafts, the 'PM Vishwakarma Scheme' was officially launched today by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. According to the Prime Minister, Shri Munda noted, every artisan must be made capable, empowered, and most crucially, self-reliant to get their produce international recognition. Numerous people, including members of the tribal community, will benefit from the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and be able to succeed and progress in their lives, the Minister added.

Union Ministers of State for Tribal Affairs, Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta and Shri Bishweswar Tudu, participated from Raipur, Chhattisgarh and Silchar, Assam respectively. Smt. Saruta said that the objective of the scheme is to promote and strengthen the practice of traditional skills by artisans and craftsmen working with their hands and tools. Shri Tudu congratulated the entire Nation for the launch of the scheme for the benefit of such sections of the society that are contributing towards the growth of the country through their skills and hard labour. This scheme would boost the small businesses and also make the local artisans more skilful, he added. Both Ministers expressed confidence that this important scheme of the Government of India will be effectively implemented in the States and the Vishwakarmas would benefit from it fully.

The PM Vishwakarma scheme which has been conceptualised to benefit Indian artisans engaged in eighteen identified traditional trades, would be fully funded by the Union Government with an outlay of Rs. 13,000 crores. Under the scheme, the eligible beneficiaries (Vishwakarmas) would be registered free of charge through Common Services Centres using biometric-based PM Vishwakarma portal. They will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, along with skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training and toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 Further, collateral-free credit support up to ₹1 lakh (first tranche) and up to ₹2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5% would be made available, in addition to incentive for digital transactions and marketing support.

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise is the nodal ministry of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. Multiple implementation activities planned under the scheme includes identification & verification of beneficiaries, their mobilization for skill up-gradation training, facilitating credit support, marketing support, etc. to enable them to move up the value-chain. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, would provide active support for implementation of the scheme for the wellbeing of the Vishwakarmas.

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NB/VM