Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the inauguration of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in New Delhi on Sunday, conferred a prestigious medal and certificate upon Ratna Sarkar Bhattacharjee, a highly skilled bamboo artisan hailing from Tripura.
Bhattacharjee, who boasts a remarkable 35-year-long career in crafting bamboo baskets, now aspires to elevate her production techniques by embracing modern methods with the help of PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, unveiled with the intention of offering support to talented but underprivileged artisans and craftspeople across both rural and urban sectors of the country, said MoS, Pratima Bhoumik during a State-level event organized at the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala on Sunday as part of the scheme’s launch by the Prime Minister. The event was conducted under the aegis of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) Limited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the gathering of artisans in the programme via videoconferencing from the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi, lauded the initiative.
The program was graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Tripura‘s Power Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, Industry and Commerce Minister, Santana Chakma, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce, K.S Sethi, West Tripura district District Magistrate, Debapriyo Bardhan, the Technical Director of NEEPCO, Ranendra Sharma, and various others.
In her address, Minister Pratima Bhoumik explained the core features of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, which is designed to empower the less privileged sections of society. Under the scheme, individuals categorized as ‘Vishwakarmas’ will receive free registration through Common Services Centers (CSCs) facilitated by the biometric-based PM Vishwakarma portal.
They will also be conferred with recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards. The scheme extends support for skill enhancement through both basic and advanced training, offering a toolkit incentive of Rs. 15,000, collateral-free credit support amounting to Rs. 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs. 2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing assistance.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme signifies a significant stride toward uplifting the skillful yet disadvantaged sections of our society, promoting self-reliance and fostering economic growth.
