The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUG 16, 2023
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years that will benefit about 30 lakh families of traditional artisans and craftsmen, including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers and barbers.
“Embracing our nation’s skills and cultural diversity, the PM Vishwakarma initiative will celebrate our traditional artisans and crafts people, both from rural and urban India,” the PM said on X.
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. The scheme also 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 with the domestic and global value chains.
Under PM Vishwakarma scheme, the artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, Credit Support upto 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.
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); (xv) Garland maker (Malakaar); Washerman (Dhobi); Tailor (Darzi); and Fishing Net Maker.
