India is a country where the tradition of arts and crafts is centuries old. The artisans and craftsmen in our villages and small towns not only earn their livelihood with their hard work and skill, but also keep the cultural heritage of the country alive. People associated with many traditional occupations like carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, sculptors, weavers do amazing work with their hands and tools. But, these artisans often face issues like financial constraints, lack of modern equipment, and access to market. Keeping these problems in mind, the Government of India has launched the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, which aims to empower these artisans and take their skills to new heights.

Today we will talk about this scheme in detail. What is this scheme, who can take advantage of it, how to apply, and what benefits can artisans get from it, you will get answers to all these questions in this article. So let’s start.

What is the Prime Minister’s Vishwakarma Scheme?

Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, also known as PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 September 2023 on the day of Vishwakarma Jayanti. The scheme was first announced on 15 August 2023 on the occasion of Independence Day from the Red Fort. Its main objective is to provide financial, technical, and social support to traditional artisans and craftsmen, so that they can improve their work and strengthen their livelihood.

The scheme has been implemented for five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28. The government has budgeted Rs 13,000 crore for this, which will provide many benefits to the artisans like loans at low interest rates, skill training, modern equipment, and access to the market. The scheme will benefit those who do traditional work with their hands and tools, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, basket weavers, sculptors, and others. In total, 18 types of traditional occupations have been included in this scheme.

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Objective of the scheme

The basic mantra of this scheme is – respect, strength, and prosperity. That is, to respect the skills of artisans, empower them, and bring prosperity in their lives. The government wants that people who have been doing their traditional work for generations should not only get financial support, but they can also keep pace with modern technologies and market demands.

For this, many types of facilities have been provided in the scheme:

• Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card: Registered artisans will be given a certificate and ID card for their identification, which will give formal recognition to their art and work.
• Low-interest loan: Interest-free loan up to Rs 1 lakh in the first phase and loan up to Rs 2 lakh at 5% interest rate in the second phase
• Skills Training: Basic and advanced training in which artisans will be exposed to modern tools and techniques.
• Assistance for Toolkit: During the training, artisans will be given a grant of Rs 15,000 so that they can purchase modern equipment
• Incentive for digital transactions: Incentive of Rs 1 on every digital transaction
• Market Linkage: Assistance in marketing of artisans’ products and brand promotion

Who can avail the benefit of this scheme?

Now the question is who will get the benefit of this scheme? For this the government has fixed some eligibility criteria, which are as follows:

• Age: Applicant must be 18 years of age or above.
• Occupation: The applicant must work in one of the 18 traditional occupations. These included
• Carpenter (Suthar)
• Blacksmith
• Potter
• Goldsmith
• Sculptor
• Basket/Mat/Broom Makers
• stone carvers
• Tailor
• Barber
• and other traditional works
• Self-employment: The applicant must be working on a self-employment basis and must be in the unorganized sector
• Citizenship: The applicant must be an Indian citizen
• No previous loan: The applicant should not have taken a loan under similar schemes of the central or state government (such as PM Swanidhi, PMEGP, or Mudra) in the last 5 years. However, if someone has repaid the loan of these schemes, they can apply.
• One member of the family: Only one member of a family will get the benefit of this scheme. Here family means husband, wife, and unmarried children.

how to apply

It is very easy to apply for Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana. The government has tried to make it digital and simple. The application process is as follows:

• Visit the official website: First of all go to pmvishwakarma.gov.in. This is the official website of the scheme.
• Register: There will be a link “How to Register” on the homepage. Click on it and select the “Artisan” tab.
• Fill the application form: You have to fill in the Aadhaar number, mobile number, and other required details. Aadhaar based authentication is mandatory
• Upload documents: You need to upload some important documents, such as:
• Aadhar card
• Ration card (for family information)
• Mobile number (which is linked with Aadhaar)
• Bank account statement
• Information related to the profession
• Public Service Center (CSC): If you do not have internet facility, you can apply by visiting the nearest Public Service Center (CSC).
• Verification process: After submitting the application, the government does verification at three levels. After this you will get Vishwakarma certificate and ID car

You can also login to the website to check the status of the application. For this, choose the “Applicant/Beneficiary Login” option and login with your registered mobile number.

Benefits of the scheme

Under this scheme, artisans get many facilities, which help in improving their work and life. Let us understand these benefits in more detail:

Financial Aid:

• Interest-free loan of up to Rs 1 lakh in the first phase, which has to be repaid in 18 months
• The second phase offers a loan of up to Rs 2 lakh with an interest rate of only 5% and can be repaid in 36 months.
• This loan is available without any guarantee, which does not put any additional burden on the artisans.

Skills Training:

• Basic Training: 40 hours training over 5-7 days, in which artisans are given basic knowledge related to their work.
• Advanced Training: 15 days 120 hours training which gives a deep understanding of modern techniques and design.
• An allowance of Rs 500 per day is also given during the training.
• Assistance for Toolkit: On completion of training, assistance of Rs 15,000 is given so that artisans can purchase modern and better tools.
• Digital Empowerment: To promote digital transactions, an incentive of Rs 1 is given on every transaction.
• Market Access: The government provides platforms for promoting and selling artisans’ products in the market, such as participation in online marketplaces and exhibitions.

Progress of the scheme

According to the information, more than 2 crore 65 lakh people had applied for this scheme till January 2024. At the same time, till July 15, 2024, applications of more than 5 lakh people were accepted. This shows that artisans and craftsmen are very enthusiastic about this scheme. Many people are expanding their work through this scheme and taking advantage of new opportunities.

Some important things

• Helpline Number: If you need any information related to the scheme or want to lodge a complaint, you can contact the toll-free number 18002677777 or 17923. Visit the website for helpline numbers of different states.
• End date: No end date has been set for the scheme yet, but it will run till 2027-28.
• Caution: Apply only through the official website or Public Service Center. Do not trust any third-party website, as it may lead to fraud.

What do the artisans say?

I spoke to some artisans who are taking advantage of this scheme. Ramu ji, a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh, said that he got a loan of Rs 1 lakh in the first phase, with which he bought new machines. This accelerated his work and now he is able to take more orders than before. Shanti Devi, a weaver from Rajasthan, said that during the training she got information about digital marketing, due to which the clothes made by her are now being sold online as well.

There are many artisans for whom this scheme has brought a new hope. It is not only improving their economic condition but also giving a new identity to their skills.

conclusion

Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana is a golden opportunity for lakhs of artisans and craftsmen who want to carry forward their traditional work. This scheme not only provides financial assistance but also provides necessary resources like skill development, modern equipment, and access to market. If you or someone in your family is eligible for this scheme, do not delay. Apply today by visiting pmvishwakarma.gov.in and take advantage of this scheme.This scheme is a big step towards preserving the cultural heritage of our country and improving the lives of artisans. If you have any questions in your mind, contact the helpline number or tell us in the comment. We will try to help you