The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the new Central Sector Scheme ‘PM Vishwakarma‘ with a financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
The program aims to strengthen and nurture the guru-shishya parampara or family practice of the traditional skills of craftsmen and artisans working with their own hands and tools.
The program also aims to improve the quality and reach of products and services of artisans and craftsmen and to ensure the integration of Vishwakarmas with domestic and global value chains.
Under the PM Vishwakarma scheme, artisans and craftsmen will be given recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, credit support up to Rs.1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%. The program will further provide skill upgradation, Toolkit incentive, digital transaction incentive and marketing support.
The program will provide support to artisans and craftsmen from rural and urban areas across India. Under PM Vishwakarma, eighteen traditional shops will be covered in the first instance. These trades include (i) Carpenter (Suthar); (ii) a ship manufacturer; (iii) Armourer; (iv) Blacksmith (Lohar); (v) manufacturer of hammer and tool sets; (vi) a locksmith; (vii) Goldsmith (Sonar); (viii) Potter (Kumhaar); (ix) Sculptor (Moortikar, carver), Stone breaker; (x) Shoemaker (Charmkar) / Shoemaker / Shoemaker; (xi) Mason; (xii) Coir basket/mat/broom/weaver; (xiii) doll and toy maker (traditional); (xiv) Barber (Naai); (xv) Garland maker (Malakaar); (xvi) Washerman (Dhobi); (xvii) Tailor (Darzi); and (xviii) a manufacturer of fishing nets.
