Vishwakarma scheme: PM Narendra Modi will launch a new scheme named PM Vishwakarma tomorrow at International Convention and Expo Centre, Yashobhoomi, in New Delhi on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti.
It has been the sustained focus of the Prime Minister to give support to the people engaged in traditional crafts. This focus is driven by the desire to not only support the artisans and craftspeople financially but also to keep the age-old tradition, culture, and diverse heritage alive and flourishing through local products, art, and crafts. Eighteen traditional crafts will be covered under PM Vishwakarma.
Akashvani correspondent reports that the Scheme aims to strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by Vishwakarma working with their hands and tools.
The prime focus of PM Vishwakarma is to improve the quality as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to ensure that they are integrated with the domestic and global value chains. PM Vishwakarma will be fully funded by the Centre with an outlay of 13 thousand crore.
Under the scheme, the Vishwakarmas will 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, skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training, toolkit incentive of 15 thousand rupees, collateral-free credit support up to one lakh rupees in first tranche and two lakh rupees in second tranche at a concessional interest rate of 5 percent, incentive for digital transactions and marketing support.
The scheme will provide support to artisans and craftspeople in rural and urban areas across India.