The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is a government of India initiative that aims to empower artisans and craftsmen by providing them with the necessary skills and resources to improve their productivity and income. The scheme was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Textiles and is being implemented by the National Institute of Design (NID).
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme offers a variety of benefits to artisans and craftsmen, including:
- Skill development training: The scheme provides artisans and craftsmen with the opportunity to learn new skills and improve their existing skills. This can help them to improve the quality of their products and make them more competitive in the market.
- Access to finance: The scheme provides artisans and craftsmen with access to finance at affordable interest rates. This can help them to invest in their businesses and expand their operations.
- Marketing support: The scheme provides artisans and craftsmen with marketing support to help them reach a wider market and sell their products at a better price.
Key Features of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme has a number of key features, including:
- It is a holistic scheme that covers the entire value chain of handicrafts, from skill development to marketing.
- It is a demand-driven scheme, which means that the benefits are provided to artisans and craftsmen based on their needs and requirements.
- It is a scalable scheme, which means that it can be expanded to cover more artisans and craftsmen in the future.
Benefits of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme for Artisans and Craftsmen
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme offers a number of benefits to artisans and craftsmen, including:
- Increased income: The scheme can help artisans and craftsmen to increase their income by improving the quality and productivity of their products, and by providing them with access to a wider market.
- Improved skills: The scheme can help artisans and craftsmen to improve their skills and learn new techniques. This can make them more competitive in the market and open up new opportunities for them.
- Increased self-reliance: The scheme can help artisans and craftsmen to become more self-reliant by providing them with the necessary skills and resources to run their own businesses.
- Social upliftment: The scheme can help to improve the social and economic status of artisans and craftsmen.
Implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is being implemented by the National Institute of Design (NID) in collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders. The NID has identified 100 artisan clusters across India where the scheme will be implemented in the first phase.
The scheme is being implemented in a phased manner. In the first phase, the NID is focusing on providing skill development training to artisans and craftsmen. The NID has developed a number of skill development training modules for different handicrafts. These modules are being delivered to artisans and craftsmen through a variety of channels, including training centers, workshops, and online courses.
In the second phase of the scheme, the NID will focus on providing artisans and craftsmen with access to finance and marketing support. The NID is working with banks and other financial institutions to develop affordable financing schemes for artisans and craftsmen. The NID is also working with marketing agencies to help artisans and craftsmen reach a wider market and sell their products at a better price.
Success Stories of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme has already had a positive impact on the lives of many artisans and craftsmen. Here are a few success stories:
- Shilpi Devi, a potter from Uttar Pradesh: Shilpi Devi was a traditional potter who earned a meager income from selling her pots at local markets. After participating in a skill development training program under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, she learned new design and production techniques. She also learned how to market her products online. As a result, her income has increased by more than 50%.
- Mohammed Yusuf, a weaver from Gujarat: Mohammed Yusuf is a weaver who specializes in making handloom sarees. He was struggling to compete with machine-made sarees in the market. After participating in a skill development training program under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, he learned new design and production techniques. He also learned how to market his products online. As a result, his sales have increased by more than 20%.
- Bhanupriya, a woodworker from Karnataka: Bhanupriya is a woodworker who specializes in making traditional wooden toys. She was struggling to find a market for her products. After participating in a skill development training program under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, she learned new design and production techniques. She also learned how to market her products online. As a result, she has been able to reach a wider market and her sales have increased by more than 30%.
Conclusion
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is a government of India initiative that aims to empower artisans and craftsmen