MP calls upon artisans to make use of PM Vishwakarma Scheme

B.Y. Raghavendra, MP, urges artisans and youth to utilise the PM Vishwakarma Scheme for a self-reliant future in Shivamogga.

Member of Parliament B.Y. Raghavendra has called upon the youth and skilled workers to make good use of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched with the objective of helping them lead a self-reliant and dignified life.

Mr. Raghavendra spoke after inaugurating an exhibition-cum-sale of the products manufactured by the beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in Shivamogga on Tuesday.

The Union government has earmarked ₹13,000 crore for the scheme, and under it, the beneficiaries can get a loan of up to ₹3 lakh at an interest rate of 5%. The artisan community under the scheme would get identity cards and kits worth ₹40,000 to ₹50,000. The identity cards would be helpful for the artisans as they travel across the country with their products, the MP said.

On the implementation of the scheme in Karnataka, Mr. Raghavendra said that over 22 lakh applications were received under the scheme. Among them, 5.39 lakh had been verified, and loans had been sanctioned to 1.25 lakh applicants. The scheme had been helpful to families belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the farming community, and skilled artisans. Street vendors were also getting benefits up to ₹50,000 under the scheme, he added.

Dr. Dhananjay Sarji, MLC, MSME Development and Facilitation Office director K. Devaraj, assistant director A. Shivakumar, District Industrial Centre deputy director H. Suresh and others were present.