From Artisans to Entrepreneurs: PM Vishwakarma Yojana Paves the Way

• Small-scale artisans play a crucial role in producing local handicrafts. The PM Vishwakarma Yojana is focused on empowering them.
• The aim of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana is to develop traditional artisans and craftsmen while preserving their rich cultural heritage.
• Skilled craftsmen embody the true spirit of a self-sufficient India, and our government recognizes them as the Vishwakarmas of the new era.
• The development of every segment of rural areas is essential for India's progress.
• We must realign our skill infrastructure system to meet the needs of the nation's Vishwakarmas.
• Today's Vishwakarmas can become tomorrow's successful entrepreneurs.

The Rise of Vishwakarma Entrepreneurs: Unlocking India's Potential

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed a Post Budget Webinar on ‘PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana’ which is aimed at providing holistic support to the artisans and crafts persons in India. The webinar focused on the importance of skilling and creating job opportunities for the crores of youth through the Skill India Mission and Kaushal Rozgar Kendra, with a specific and targeted approach for the Vishwakarmas. Referring to Gandhi ji’s concept of Gram Swaraj, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of these professions in village life along with agriculture.

The PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana or PM Vishwakarma aims to empower every section of the village for its development, essential for India's development journey. The Prime Minister stressed the need to reorient the skill infrastructure system according to the needs of Vishwakarmas. He mentioned the need for digital literacy campaigns to Vishwakarma Saathis on priority.

Building a Self-Reliant India: The Vital Role of Vishwakarma Artisans

The Prime Minister highlighted that artisans and craftsmen can be further strengthened when they become a part of the value chain and pointed out that many of them can become suppliers and producers for our MSME sector. The objective of the scheme is to develop traditional artisans and craftsmen while preserving their rich tradition. The aim is that Vishwakarmas of today can become entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The Prime Minister concluded by requesting all the stakeholders to prepare a robust blueprint for implementation of PM Vishwakarma. He emphasized that the government is trying to reach out to the people in the remote parts of the country, many of whom are getting the benefits of the government schemes for the first time. Most of the artisans are from dalit, adivasi, backward communities or are women and to reach and provide benefit to them, a practical strategy will be needed. “For this, we will have to work in a time-bound mission mode,” the Prime Minister concluded.

The webinar was followed by four parallel breakout sessions on access to affordable finance, advanced skill training, marketing support for linkages with domestic and global markets, and the structure of the scheme, identification of beneficiaries, and implementation framework. The panel included expert artisans from respective fields, officials from Central Ministries and State Governments, and representatives from Banks, other financial institutions, Private organizations, Associations, and e-commerce platforms.

Access To Affordable Credit Through Mudra Yojana 

The first breakout session on ‘Access to affordable finance, including incentives for digital transactions and social security,’ moderated by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, focused on access to affordable credit, type of credit, incentives for digital transactions, and social security. The panelists included expert artisans, officials from the government, and financial institutions. The important suggestions that emerged from various stakeholders included the need for interest subvention, collateral-free loans with support from a credit guarantee fund with minimum guarantee fees, special provisions for women entrepreneurs, the importance of incentivizing digital transactions, and providing social security through pensions and insurance.

Providing Advanced Skill Training & Access To Modern Tools & Technology

The second breakout session on ‘Advanced skill training and access to modern tools & technology,’ moderated by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, discussed the need for advanced skill training, provisioning of modern tools and technology, and the identification of master trainers. The third breakout session on ‘Marketing support for linkages with domestic and global markets’ focused on the role of e-commerce platforms, branding, and global certification. The fourth breakout session on the ‘Structure of the scheme, identification of beneficiaries, and implementation framework’ discussed the importance of a comprehensive database of artisans, the need for a transparent and accountable mechanism for the identification of beneficiaries, and the involvement of community leaders in the implementation of the scheme.