PM Vishwakarma Scheme

The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is a comprehensive central sector initiative launched by the Government of India to provide holistic support to artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and traditional tools. Recognizing the cultural and economic importance of traditional craftsmanship, the scheme focuses on 18 specific trades including carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, sculptors, and tailors. The program aims to integrate these traditional workers into the modern value chain by providing them with institutional support and formal recognition through the 'PM Vishwakarma Certificate' and ID card. A key feature of the scheme is skill advancement, offering both basic and advanced training programs with a daily stipend to help artisans upgrade their techniques. To solve the problem of high-cost equipment, the scheme provides a toolkit incentive of fifteen thousand rupees. Financial empowerment is at the heart of the initiative, offering collateral-free credit support of up to three lakh rupees in two tranches at a highly subsidized interest rate. Furthermore, the scheme provides incentives for digital transactions and marketing support to help these small-scale entrepreneurs reach wider audiences both domestically and internationally. By professionalizing traditional skills, the scheme ensures the preservation of India's rich heritage while improving the livelihoods and dignity of the Vishwakarma community.