Tripura joined the nationwide celebration of the first anniversary of the *PM Vishwakarma Scheme* on Friday, marking significant progress in supporting traditional craftsmen and artisans across the state. The event was inaugurated in Agartala by Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, who emphasized the importance of enhancing local artisans’ skills and promoting the sale of indigenous goods to strengthen India’s traditional craftsmanship.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme aims to uplift traditional artisans by providing them with modern tools, skill training, and financial support. The scheme focuses on 18 traditional crafts, offering loans of up to Rs 3 lakhs at 5 percent interest and a grant of Rs 15,000 to purchase toolkits for training purposes.
As part of the first anniversary celebration, the main event was held at Wardha, Maharashtra, where Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation. In Tripura, the ceremony took place at the Bamboo and Cane Development Institute (BCDI) in Khajurbagan.
According to officials, over 51,305 artisans have registered under the scheme in Tripura, with 18,000 receiving skill enhancement training so far. Among them, 6,000 artisans have successfully completed their training, and 1,300 have received loans. Across India, a total of 20 lakh artisans are registered, with 1.6 lakh beneficiaries having received loans totaling Rs 1,400 crores.
Punjab National Bank and Tripura Gramin Bank are actively providing loans under the scheme in Tripura, and over 20 training centers have been established to facilitate skill development.
Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Kiran Gitte, stressed the importance of village, district, and state-level committees in ensuring the effective implementation of the scheme. During the event, several beneficiaries were awarded loan sanction letters and training certificates.
