PM Vishwakarma Scheme Completes One Year; Anniversary Celebrated in Bihar

Introduction

The first anniversary of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme was celebrated at Upendra Maharathi Shilp Sansthan, Patna, highlighting the Government's efforts to promote and strengthen India's traditional artisans and craftsmen. During the programme, former Union Minister and Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad distributed certificates to beneficiaries, while artisans participated in the event and virtually joined the Prime Minister's address from Wardha, Maharashtra.

ANALYSIS

The completion of one year of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme marks an important milestone in India's efforts to preserve and modernise its traditional artisan ecosystem. The scheme focuses on providing comprehensive support to artisans and craftspeople engaged in traditional occupations by integrating them into the formal economy through skill development, financial assistance, modern tools, credit support, digital transactions, and market access.The anniversary programme held at Upendra Maharathi Shilp Sansthan, Patna, reflects the emphasis placed by both the Union and Bihar Governments on promoting traditional craftsmanship. Distribution of certificates to beneficiaries signifies recognition of artisans who have been brought under the scheme and have undergone various stages of assistance.The participation of artisans through the Prime Minister's virtual address from Wardha also underlines the nationwide nature of the initiative, ensuring that beneficiaries across different States remain connected with the programme's objectives and future roadmap.The scheme aims to address longstanding challenges faced by traditional artisans, including limited institutional credit, outdated tools, lack of branding, inadequate market access, and declining interest among younger generations in traditional occupations. By offering an integrated support mechanism, the programme seeks to improve productivity, enhance incomes, and preserve India's rich heritage of handicrafts and traditional skills.For Bihar, where a significant number of families continue to depend on handicrafts, woodwork, metalwork, weaving, pottery, leather work, and other traditional occupations, the scheme has the potential to generate sustainable livelihoods while preserving indigenous crafts. Institutions such as Upendra Maharathi Shilp Sansthan can further strengthen the ecosystem by providing training, design development, and promotion of local handicrafts.The scheme also complements the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Skill India, Digital India, and Vocal for Local by creating an enabling environment for traditional artisans to compete in domestic and global markets.

Key Highlights

Significance

The first anniversary demonstrates the government's continued commitment towards:

• Economic empowerment of traditional artisans.
• Formalisation of the informal artisan sector.
• Preservation of India's traditional crafts and heritage.
• Employment generation through self-employment.
• Promotion of indigenous products under Vocal for Local.
• Improved access to finance, skills, technology and markets.

STATIC PART

PM Vishwakarma Scheme

Launch

• Launched: 17 September 2023

Nodal Ministry

• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

Objective

• Support traditional artisans and craftspeople.
• Improve productivity through modern tools.
• Promote skill upgradation.
• Facilitate access to affordable institutional credit.
• Strengthen market linkages and branding.
• Preserve India's traditional occupations and crafts.

Major Components

• Skill Training
• Toolkit Incentive
• Collateral-free Credit Support
• Digital Transaction Incentives
• Marketing Support
• Quality Certification
• Brand Promotion

Target Beneficiaries

Traditional artisans and craftspeople engaged in notified trades.

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

Established:9 May 2007 (renamed from the Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries)Headquarters: New DelhiPresent Union Minister:Jitan Ram Manjhi

Major Functions

• Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Entrepreneurship development.
• Credit facilitation.
• Skill development.
• Cluster development.
• Technology upgradation.
• Promotion of traditional industries and artisans.

Upendra Maharathi Shilp Sansthan

Location: Patna, Bihar

Primary Functions

• Promotion of traditional handicrafts.
• Artisan skill development.
• Design innovation.
• Craft preservation.
• Training and capacity building.
• Exhibition and marketing support for artisans.

Updated – 20 September 2024 | 02:22 PMNews Source:

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