Jammu, Sep 19: Chief Spokesperson BJP Mahila Morcha J&KUT Ritika Trehan on Tuesday hailed Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, designed to provide financial support and advanced equipment to traditional craftsmen and artisans. She termed the move significant and aimed at uplifting traditional artisans and craftsmen.
“Skill training beneficiaries will receive basic skill training with a daily stipend of Rs 500 during the training period and after completing their training, artisans will be provided with a tool kit worth Rs 15,000,” she said in a statement.
Ritika further said that the scheme offers collateral-free loans of Rs 1 lakh in the first phase and up to Rs 2 lakh in the second phase at a low-interest rate of 5 percent besides artisans will be issued Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma identity cards. The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana covers artisans and craftsmen working in 18 traditional disciplines, including carpenters, boat makers, blacksmiths, locksmiths, goldsmiths, sculptors, cobblers, masons, woodworkers, and more, she said.
The BJP spokesperson praised the stipend offered to artisans during their training, highlighting its potential to provide employment opportunities. She emphasized the scheme’s importance and its potential to elevate traditional craftsmen to new heights of development.
Ritika hailed the scheme as a boon for traditional craftsmen, offering financial strength and skill enhancement. She noted that the government has allocated Rs 13,000 crore for five years under this scheme, benefiting 18 categories of workers besides incentives for digital transactions and international branding and packaging support to expand sales potential.
“This scheme will prove to be a boon for crores of craftsmen and artisans of the country in the coming times. Craftsmen and artisans living in rural areas will benefit from this scheme. It will be beneficial to keep the age-old tradition, culture and diverse heritage of the country alive and prosperous through local products, arts and crafts. This is a big opportunity for those who were not able to start employment due to lack of capital and skills,” Ritika added.
