New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday said the PM Vishwakarma Scheme has provided basic skill training to more than 24.29 lakh traditional artisans and craftspeople across the country, helping them improve their skills, access credit and expand market opportunities.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje said the scheme, launched on September 17, 2023, offers end-to-end support to artisans engaged in 18 traditional trades, including carpenters, potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, masons, cobblers, barbers, tailors, toy makers, basket makers, washermen and fishing net makers.
The minister said beneficiaries receive skill upgradation, concessional credit, modern toolkits, digital transaction incentives and marketing support. They are also linked to the Udyam Assist Platform, enabling them to access various government schemes, priority sector lending and opportunities to formalise and expand their businesses.
Citing a concurrent evaluation by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai, which surveyed 11,591 beneficiaries across all states and Union Territories, the government said 93% of respondents reported a moderate to significant increase in income after completing the training, indicating that the acquired skills had translated into tangible economic benefits.
To improve market access, the scheme supports artisans through trade fairs, state-level exhibitions and online marketing via e-commerce platforms, helping them promote and sell their products in domestic as well as international markets.
According to the government, more than 1,500 awareness programmes and camps, over 50 workshops, 82 trade fairs, 37 state-level exhibitions and more than 50 promotional events have been organised across the country to increase awareness and strengthen market linkages for traditional artisans.
The Centre said the initiative aims to preserve India’s traditional crafts while improving the livelihoods of artisans through skill development, entrepreneurship and integration into the formal economy.
