A one-day seminar cum awareness programme on PM Vishwakarma scheme was held at the conference hall of the Block Development Office, Mawkyrwat today.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Branch MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Shillong in collaboration with the Office of the District Commerce and Industries Centre.
Additional Deputy Commissioner L.T. Tariang emphasised on the importance of improving skills while highlighting the need for training and development to enhance both the quality of work and the enthusiasm of artisans and craftsmen.
He urged people to take advantage of scheme and utilise it effectively to improve their skills to not only earn their livelihood but also enable them to pass skills to their children and future generations.
BDO I. Lawriniang spoke on the scheme and informed that the Vishwakarma scheme provides skill training, credit support, and marketing support to artisans in 18 different trades. He urged the gathering to capitalise on the scheme to acquire skills improvement relevant to their respective professions so that every village in the district has skilled individuals capable of carrying out various tasks within their respective village.
Assistant Director, Branch MSME- DFO Neeraj Sharma informed that the trades covered under the Scheme are carpenter, potter, boat maker, armourer, blacksmith, hammer and toolkit maker, locksmith, goldsmith, sculptor, doll and toy maker (traditional), cobbler, shoesmith/ footwear artisan, mason, barber, garland maker, washerman, tailor and fishnet maker.
He also highlighted the benefits to the artisans and crafts person such as recognition of artisans and crafts person through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID cards, skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, credit support, incentives for digital transaction and marketing support. Registration to avail the scheme will be done through Common Service Centre (CSC) free of cost, he added.
Following the inaugural session, a technical session was conducted that provided an insight into the registration process and the necessary documentation required to avail the benefits of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
