Kolkata, May 24 -- The West Bengal government has initiated the process of implementing the Centre's flagship 'PM Vishwakarma Yojana' in the state, marking a major step towards extending support to traditional artisans and craftsmen.
A high-level meeting was held at Nabanna on Friday between senior state officials led by Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal and Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner of the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Sources said detailed discussions were held on the early rollout of the scheme in Bengal. Officials believe the project could significantly improve the socio-economic condition of thousands of artisans and skilled workers across the state. Blacksmiths, potters, goldsmiths, garland makers, weavers and barbers are among those eligible to register under the scheme.
The Chief Minister had earlier alleged that nearly 8.65 lakh artisans from Bengal had applied for the scheme, but the previous state government did not allow district administrations to forward the applications to the Centre's MSME department.
Sources in Nabanna said discussions focused on expediting the implementation process. The government has already formed a monitoring committee and district-level implementation committees for effective execution. Under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, beneficiaries receive collateral-free loans, skill training, modern toolkits, incentives for digital transactions and market linkage support aimed at strengthening traditional occupations and self-employment opportunities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.