UT artisans, craftspeople to benefit a lot
Traditional traders to get Credit Support
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch ‘PM Vishwakarma’, a Centrally Sector Scheme at approximately 40 locations covering all States and Union Territories including Jammu and Kashmir on September 17.
While the Prime Minister will launch the Scheme virtually from New Delhi, Union Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) among others will be present at approximately 40 locations to start the scheme physically in presence of senior officers of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry, which will coordinate the scheme having financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore, official sources told the Excelsior.
In Jammu, the scheme will be launched at Jammu Convention Centre in the presence of Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member from Jammu-Poonch constituency Jugal Kishore Sharma besides senior officers of the concerned department.
Name of the Union Minister who will be present for launch of the Scheme at Srinagar is being finalized and the schedule will be announced for the Valley in next couple of days, the sources said
The Union Cabinet had recently approved Central Sector Scheme ‘PM Vishwakarma’ to support traditional artisans and craftspeople of rural and urban India.
Financial outlay of Rs 1300 crore has been approved for the scheme for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
A number of workers engaged in traditional skills will be beneficiaries of the Scheme which is being launched countrywide on September 17 including Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory, it may be mentioned, has large number of artisans working in different fields who will benefit from the scheme.
As per the sources, the nitty-gritty of the scheme have been worked out by the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and are in the process of being furnished to all State/Union Territory Governments/Administration.
“The scheme will finally come into operation once it is launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17,” the sources said.
The scheme aims to strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools, sources said.
“It is also aimed at improving the quality, as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to ensure that the Vishwakarmas are integrated with the domestic and global value chains,” they added.
Under PM Vishwakarma scheme, the artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, Credit Support up to Rs.1 lakh (First Tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (Second Tranche) with a concessional interest rate of 5%.
The Scheme will further provide Skill Upgradation, Toolkit Incentive, Incentive for Digital Transactions and Marketing Support, as per the sources.
The scheme will provide support to artisans and craftspeople of rural and urban areas across India. Eighteen traditional trades will be covered in the first instance under PM Vishwakarma.
These trades include Carpenter (Suthar); Boat Maker; Armourer; Blacksmith (Lohar); Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; Locksmith; Goldsmith (Sonar); Potter (Kumhaar); Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver), Stone breaker; Cobbler(Charmkar)/ Shoesmith/Footwear artisan; Mason (Rajmistri); Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver; Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); Barber (Naai); Garland maker (Malakaar); Washerman (Dhobi); Tailor (Darzi); and Fishing Net Maker.
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