ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced on Sunday that the state government would introduce a flagship programme for those trades that do not come under the purview of the newly launched PM Vishwakarma scheme of the central government. Virtually attending the launch of the PM Vishwakarma scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the DK Convention Centre here, Khandu said that the state flagship programme will ensure that all local artisans, crafts-men, and tradesmen left out from the newly launched central scheme too will get government support so that they are not left out from the benefits that will be available to their counterparts in included trades. Hailing the Vishwakarma scheme as a significant step towards empowering the artisans, who form the basic work force of the country, Khandu said crores of tradesmen across the coun-try will benefit from it. "The Vishwakarma scheme intends to provide recognition and holistic support to the traditional artisans and craftsmen working with their hands and elementary tools, so as to improve the quality, scale, and reach of their products and also to integrate them with MSME value chains," he informed. He said that Arunachal Pradesh has a huge pool of expert artisans, particu-larly in the trades of carpentry, weaving, sculpting, handloom, textiles, etc., who will now have government support to enhance their skills to the next level, besides availing of loans and marketing benefits. "What a great gift by our Prime Minister to our work force on the day of Vishwakarma Puja and his own birthday," Khandu said.
Narendra Modi, he said, has proven once again that he is committed to his vision of empowering the last man in the queue. "People are witness to the unprecedented development and welfare activities initiated by the central government under Prime Minis-ter Narendra Modi in the last nine years. The Vishwakarma scheme is just another from his (Modi's) bag of welfare schemes," Khandu added. Taking the instance of the hugely successful G20 summit, he said that Modi has taken India to such a level that the world now looks up to it. "Arunachal Pradesh too had the privilege of being a part of the summit by hosting one G20 meet at Itana-gar and one C20 meet at Namsai. Foreign diplomats and delegates visited Arunachal Pradesh for the meetings. Earlier, they had apprehensions about visiting Arunachal Pradesh due to repeated objections aired by our neighbouring country. Today, nobody cares about these objections," Khandu remarked.
The 18 traditional trades included by the Government of India under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana are Fishing Net Maker, Tai-lor, Washerman, Garland Maker, Barber, Doll and Toy Maker (Traditional), Basket/Mat/BroomMaker/Coir Weaver, Mason, Cob-bler, Sculptor, Stone Breaker, Potter, Goldsmith, Locksmith, Hammer and Tool Kit Maker, Blacksmith, Armourer, Boat Maker, and Carpenter.
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