Govt calls meeting of states, bank officials on 'PM Vishwakarma' on August 28

The government has called a meeting of senior officials from states, public sector banks and State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) on Monday, to discuss the implementation of the Rs 13,000 crore 'PM Vishwakarma' scheme, which seeks to support traditional artisans and craftsman. The scheme, which would be launched on September 17, would be implemented by three ministries -- MSME, Skill Development and Finance. The target is to enrol as many as 3 lakh beneficiaries in the current fiscal, an official said.

"The Skill Ministry has called a meeting on August 28, in which principal secretaries of states, managing directors of banks, and SLBC representatives have been invited. "The meeting will discuss the roadmap for implementation of the scheme and process of identification of beneficiaries of PM Vishwakarma scheme," the official said.

Under the scheme, the skilled workmen will be given training for 4-5 days to upgrade their skill, following which they will become eligible for loan. "Our target for this fiscal is to give loans to 3 lakh beneficiaries," the official added. "Our target for this fiscal is to give loans to 3 lakh beneficiaries," the official added.

The main thrust of the scheme will be on rural areas, where village-level and district-level committees will identify the beneficiaries. In urban India, municipal corporations will identify the beneficiaries. A final decision on enrolment will be taken by the MSME ministry, the official said.