PM Vishwakarma Scheme Empowers Over 20 Lakh Artisans in Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi: The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched on September 17, 2023, aims to provide comprehensive support to artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools. This initiative offers recognition through PM Vishwakarma Certificates and ID Cards, skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, credit support, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support.

The scheme covers 18 trades and focuses on enhancing traditional skills, acquiring new techniques, and producing improved products. It targets self-employed artisans and craftspeople, typically part of the informal or unorganized sector of the economy. Beneficiaries are also registered on the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP), making them eligible for Priority Sector Lending.

The scheme’s design was shaped by extensive consultations with stakeholders, including artisans, craftspeople, government ministries, state and UT governments, MSMEs, industry associations, NGOs, and banks.

As of July 18, 2024, Andhra Pradesh has received 20,46,805 applications, with 83,378 successfully registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. Beneficiaries are eligible for advanced training only after completing basic training. To date, advanced training has not yet commenced. However, 5,03,161 candidates have been certified after basic training nationwide, including 46,726 in Andhra Pradesh.

Marketing support under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme includes creating physical and online presence for products and services, listing products on e-commerce portals, brand building, connecting artisans with exporters and traders, participation in trade fairs and exhibitions, and support for ensuring product quality, packaging, and design. Additionally, the scheme provides support for identifying government infrastructure that can be used as retail space for displaying products.

The district-wise and trade-wise details for Andhra Pradesh, including Bapatla district, can be found on the Ministry’s website at this link.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, Rs. 23.02 crores were allocated and utilized for promotional and awareness campaigns. Details of these campaigns are provided below.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.