PM Vishwakarma Scheme is for end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftsmen or ‘Vishwakarma’ to grow their business. A significant section of the workforce of the Indian economy consists of artisans and craftspeople generally considered to be a part of the informal or unorganized sector of the economy. Read here to learn more about the scheme.
The Indian economy encompasses numerous artisans and craftsmen who employ their skilled hands and traditional tools, specializing in various occupations, including blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, carpentry, sculpture, and more.
These skills or occupations are passed from generation to generation, both within the families and other informal groups of artisans and craftspeople.
These traditional artisans and craftspeople are denoted to as ‘Vishwakarma’. They are usually self-employed and are largely considered to be a part of the unorganized sector of the economy.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The new scheme, called ‘PM Vishwakarma’, aims 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 into the domestic and global value chains.
- It is the goal of this Scheme to offer holistic end-to-end support to the Vishwakarmas, i.e., the artisans and craftspeople, to enable them to move up the value chain in their respective trades.
- It will bring a qualitative shift in the way these occupations are practiced by artisans and craftspeople and this will uplift their socio-economic status as well as their quality of life.
- Provisions have been made under the scheme for training, technology, credit, and market support for the traditional artisans and craftsmen to give impetus to their endeavors.
- In the fisheries sector, Fishing Net Maker and Boat Maker are the potential beneficiaries of this PM Vishwakarma Yojana.
- India’s fisheries sector is on a trajectory of progress through multidimensional interventions rolled out meticulously, and PM Vishwakarma is utterly going to give impetus to the sunrise sector.
- For reaching out to the potential stakeholders and efficient implementation of the scheme, so that the eligible beneficiaries can take benefits of the schemes, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is steadfast in imparting needful patronage.
PM Vishwakarma will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Government of India, with an initial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore.
- The Scheme will be conjointly implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Government of India.
- MSME will be the Nodal Ministry for the Scheme and the Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner (MSME) in the Ministry of MSME will be the focal point for all aspects of implementation and coordination
PM Vishwakarma will be initially implemented for five years up to 2027-28.
The Scheme will be rolled out in rural and urban areas with a focus on saturating districts in a phased manner.
Objectives
- To enable the recognition of artisans and craftspeople as Vishwakarma, making them eligible to avail all the benefits under the Scheme.
- To provide skill upgradation to hone their skills and make relevant and suitable training opportunities available to them.
- To provide support for better and modern tools to enhance their capability, productivity, and quality of products and services.
- To provide the beneficiaries easy access to collateral-free credit and reduce the cost of credit by providing interest subvention.
- To provide incentives for digital transactions to encourage the digital empowerment of Vishwakarmas.
- To provide a platform for brand promotion and market linkages to help them access new growth opportunities.
Benefits of PM Vishwakarma scheme
PM Vishwakarma is a holistic Scheme that envisages to provide end-to-end support to the artisans and craftspeople through the following components:
- Recognition: PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card
- Skill Upgradation
- Toolkit Incentive
- Credit Support
- Incentive for Digital Transactions
- Marketing Support
Eligibility: Artisan/craftsperson working with hands and tools and engaged in one of the 18 family-based traditional trades.
- Benefits shall be restricted to one member of the family. Minimum age: 18 years on the date of registration.
Exclusion: Existing beneficiaries of the PM Employment Generation Programme. ‘Beneficiaries of’ PM Mudra Scheme or PM-SVanidhi can apply for credit only after repayment.
Lending institutions: Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks, NBFCs and Micro-Finance Institutions.
Significance of PM Vishwakarma scheme
The Scheme aims to provide several benefits to the Vishwakarmas, who are either self-employed or intend to set up their small-scale ventures.
- The support provided through this Scheme to such beneficiaries will not only contribute to the preservation of cultural practices, generational skills, and guru-shishya parampara but will also provide an identity and recognition to them.
The Scheme envisages to provide end-to-end holistic support to artisans and craftspeople for their respective trades.
- Through the implementation of the Scheme, it is expected that beneficiaries who are currently working as entrepreneurs in the unorganized sector will be able to scale up their operations, modernize/upgrade their tools and business, and enter the formal economy as entrepreneurs and contribute towards the larger goal of nation building.
- The Scheme seeks to promote the empowerment of women, and those belonging to the marginalized or under-served groups like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Specially Abled, Transgenders, residents of NER states, Island Territories, and Hilly Areas.
During the implementation of PM Vishwakarma, awareness for availing benefits of insurance, pension, and health schemes will be promoted.
- Efforts will be made to increase awareness among the beneficiaries to avail social security benefits under the various schemes of the Government of India and State Governments such as Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana.
- It is expected that many beneficiaries of PM Vishwakarma will avail such benefits.
Indian trades and crafts under the scheme
- Wood-based: Carpentry, boat making
- Iron/metal/stone based: Armourer, blacksmith, hammer and toolkit maker, locksmith, sculptor, stone breaker.
- Gold/silver based: Goldsmith, Silversmith
- Clay-based: Potter
- Leather-based: Cobbler, Footwear artisan
- Architecture/construction based: Masons
- Others: Basket/ Mat/ Broom Maker/ Coir Weaver, Doll and toy Maker (Traditional), barber, garland maker, washerman, tailor, fishing net maker
Other government initiatives for artisans
- National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP)
- Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
- Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna: Under the Dastkar Shashktikaran Yojna subsection of this scheme, the program enables community empowerment to mobilize artisans into self-help groups.
- Mega cluster scheme: The program follows a mega cluster-based approach in scaling up infrastructural and production chains at handicraft centers that have remained unorganized and have not kept up with modernization and other developments. The objectives include generating employment and improving living standards for existing artisans.
- Marketing support and services scheme
- Research and development scheme
Conclusion
Vishwakarmas in India is a diverse group of skilled craftsmen and artisans who have played a crucial role in the country’s art, architecture, and cultural heritage.
They continue to contribute to India’s rich artistic and architectural traditions while adapting to the demands of the modern world. Their reverence for Lord Vishwakarma and their dedication to craftsmanship are integral to their way of life.
The Indian government and various organizations have recognized the importance of preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Efforts are made to provide training, support, and platforms for Vishwakarma artisans to showcase their skills.
-Article by Swathi Satish
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