30 Lakh Beneficiaries Registered Under PM Vishwakarma Scheme

The Scheme's Original Purpose

Manjhi highlighted the achievements of the PM Vishwakarma scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2023, with the aim of empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill training, the provision of modern toolkits, access to credit, and market support, addressing a segment of India's workforce that has historically had limited access to formal financial and skill-development infrastructure.

Marking the Scheme's Third Anniversary

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) celebrated the third anniversary of PM Vishwakarma at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. The occasion highlighted the government's continued efforts to strengthen the livelihoods, skills and entrepreneurial capabilities of traditional artisans and craftspeople across the country.

West Bengal's Progress Under the Scheme

Addressing the gathering, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari underscored the importance of extending skill training and credit support to traditional artisans and craftspeople within the state. Outlining the scheme's progress in West Bengal specifically, he noted that more than 7 lakh applications have been received under PM Vishwakarma, a substantial figure indicating strong interest and demand from the state's artisan community.

A Commitment to Faster Facilitation

Adhikari said the state government would work to expedite the provisioning of facilitative support, aiming to enable Vishwakarmas across West Bengal to more readily avail the benefits available under the scheme, suggesting that while application numbers have been strong, the state is now focused on ensuring the actual delivery of benefits keeps pace with demand.

Encouragement for Beneficiaries

Union Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje congratulated the beneficiaries present and extended her best wishes for their entrepreneurial journeys. She encouraged them to make full use of the opportunities and support available under PM Vishwakarma and to strive toward becoming successful entrepreneurs in their respective crafts.

A Significant Occasion for West Bengal

Karandlaje noted that the event held special significance for West Bengal, given that the state joined PM Vishwakarma relatively recently, marking this Kolkata event as the first programme conducted by the Ministry of MSME under the scheme specifically within West Bengal, a detail that underscores the ongoing geographic expansion of the scheme's implementation across different states.

Linking Women's Empowerment to Broader Development Goals

Karandlaje also emphasised that empowering women entrepreneurs would play a vital role in building stronger families, communities, and ultimately a prosperous Viksit Bharat, tying the scheme's individual-level economic empowerment efforts to the government's broader long-term development vision for the country.