Jammu and Kashmir has achieved the distinction of being the first Union Territory (UT) to launch the PM Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY), a scheme aimed at empowering and upskilling the artisan community, according to officials on Tuesday. The inaugural training program for the initial batch of 30 trainees in the ‘darzi craft’ was inaugurated virtually by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), at ITI Shopian.
Bhatnagar expressed pride in Jammu and Kashmir being the pioneering UT to implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to nurturing a culture of skill development for creating employment opportunities for the youth. The scheme, launched by the Central government in September 2023, aims to acknowledge artisans and craftspeople through PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards, officials noted. PMVY includes basic training lasting five to seven days, advanced training for 15 days or more, a stipend of Rs 500 per day, and a free modern toolkit worth Rs 15,000 for trained Vishwakarmas. Additionally, the yojana provides linkage with credit-based soft loans and marketing support to help expand their businesses, officials added.
The scheme is anticipated to be implemented across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the near future, marking a significant stride towards fostering self-employment and skill development within the craftsman community.
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