Guwahati, Assam – More than 13,600 artisans in Assam have received financial support under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday.
According to Sarma, loans worth ₹125.34 crore have already been disbursed to beneficiaries, helping traditional craftspeople expand their businesses and secure livelihoods. He noted that the scheme is not limited to credit assistance but also provides skill training, modern toolkits, and institutional support to enhance productivity.
The Chief Minister highlighted that 1.18 lakh artisans in the state have been certified under the programme so far. Of these, 92,851 have completed training modules, while 37,402 toolkits have been distributed to upgrade work practices. “By empowering today’s Vishwakarmas with skills, tools, and credit, we are laying the foundation for a self-reliant tomorrow,” Sarma said in a social media post.
Launched nationally on September 17, 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme carries a financial outlay of ₹13,000 crore for the period 2023–24 to 2027–28. It aims to strengthen traditional artisan communities by improving access to modern equipment, expanding market linkages, and supporting trades across rural and urban areas.
The initiative places special emphasis on women and marginalised groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, persons with disabilities, transgender individuals, and residents of the North Eastern Region, island territories, and hilly areas.
Implementation is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance. To ensure effective outreach, District Project Management Units (DPMUs) have been set up nationwide. As of July 2025, 497 DPMUs were operational across 618 districts, coordinating awareness drives, training schedules, and compliance with scheme guidelines.
