NEW DELHI: On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that improving the workforce's skills, emphasizing traditional handicrafts, and fostering craftsmen at the village level will be crucial to the prosperity of the nation.
The 12th and final webinar in the post-budget series was remotely addressed by the PM. He claimed that accomplished artisans are representations of the true ethos of independent India. He mentioned that these small artists are crucial to the creation of regional crafts.
He claimed that PM Vishwakarma Yojana aims to give them more influence. The PM said, "Skilled craftspeople are icons of the true spirit of independent India, and our administration considers such individuals to be the Vishwakarma of modern India."
On February 1, 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana (PM VIKAS) was introduced as part of the federal budget for 2023–2024. The program attempts to increase the value of traditional products by integrating them into the MSME value chain to improve their quality, scalability, and reach.
Along with providing financial assistance to artists, the program also gives them access to advanced skill training, knowledge of cutting-edge digital methods and eco-friendly technology, brand promotion, connections to regional and international markets, digital payments, and social security.
According to Modi, the program's goal is to support the growth of traditional artists and craftspeople while maintaining their unique cultural heritage.
He continued by saying that the Vishwakarmas may use this plan to launch a new generation of businesses. In addition, PM Modi emphasised that India has a long history of honouring people who use their hands and tools for labour.
Many classes of artisans, including carpenters, ironsmiths, sculptors, masons, and many others who are essential to society, have been adapting to the changing times to meet the needs of society that were ignored, Modi said.
The prime minister said that Mahatma Gandhi's idea of "gram swaraj," or localized self-reliance, needed to be given new attention. For India to progress, he added, "every segment of the village must be empowered for its growth." He went on to say that these occupations needed just as much attention as agriculture.
According to the prime minister, combining the sector with corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, and other organizations can produce a situation where "every stakeholder" benefits.
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