New Delhi. The soul of India’s cultural heritage and traditional skills lives in artisans and craftsmen. Artisans like carpentry, potter, goldsmith, blacksmiths, tailors, masons, barber and cobbler have been serving the society for generations. The Central Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana with the aim of giving respect, stability and empowerment to these artisans.

What is Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana?

The scheme, launched on 17 September 2023, aims to provide financial and technical assistance to traditional craftsmen and artisans. Under this scheme, beneficiaries are provided facilities like loan, modern tools, training and identity cards at low interest rates.

Major benefits of the scheme

Loan up to ₹ 3 lakh at 5% interest rate: In two phases, loans of ₹ 1 lakh are given in the first phase without guarantee loan and ₹ 2 lakh in the second phase.

Modern toolkit of ₹ 15,000: A kit of new and advanced equipment is given to make the work more efficient.

Training and stipend: To increase skills, an allowance of ₹ 500 per day is received during training.

Identification and Honor: The beneficiaries are provided ‘Prime Minister Vishwakarma’ certificate and digital ID card, which strengthens their social identity.

Who can take advantage of the scheme?

The benefit of this scheme will be available only to those artisans who fulfill some special conditions: The age of the applicant should be at least 18 years. He should be employed in a traditional craft or workmanship like tailor, carpentry, goldsmith, blacksmith etc. Applicants should be self -employment (no company or institute employee). No other family member is already taking advantage of this scheme. No member in the family is in a government job.

How to apply?

The process of application under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana is completely online. For this, go to the official website PMVishwakarma.gov.in. Click on the ‘CSC View E-Shram Data’ option. Login with the help of your CSC ID and password. Select the eligible artisan from the list. Click on the ‘CSC Register Artisans’ option and then login. Fill the declaration to family and previous plans. Enter Aadhaar number and registered mobile number, verify from OTP and biometric. Registration will be successfully completed after the application process is completed.