Mizoram Chief Secretary Holds Review Meeting on PM Vishwakarma Scheme Implementation

A review meeting on the implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in Mizoram was held this morning at the Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, MINECO. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Pu H. Lalengmawia and attended by Dr. Lalzirmawia Chhangte, Commissioner & Secretary of Commerce and Industries, the Director of LESDE, Joint Secretary of Commerce and Industries, Deputy Commissioners of various districts, State Level Bankers Committee Coordinator, NSDC State Coordinator, Chairperson of Mizoram Rural Bank, and other officials.

The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched on 17th September 2023. It aims to support India’s artisans and craftsmen by recognising and promoting their skills and enabling sustainable livelihoods.

The scheme is implemented under the collaboration of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India.

The key objectives of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme include:

1. Identifying and supporting traditional artisans and craftsmen through skill recognition.
2. Enhancing and upgrading existing skillsets to meet modern standards.
3. Providing assistance to improve productivity and product quality.
4. Facilitating access to collateral-free and affordable credit.
5. Promoting the use of digital transactions.
6. Supporting market access and product outreach.

Current application status in Mizoram:

• Total applications submitted across the state: 10,740
• Applications approved in Stage 1: 7,900
• Applications approved in Stage 2: 7,269
• Applications approved in Stage 3: 3,297

Stages of Application Processing:

• Stage 1: Applications submitted via the PM Vishwakarma portal are verified online by Village Council Presidents or Local Council Chairpersons.
• Stage 2: Verified applications are forwarded online to the District Implementation Committee, which further scrutinizes and recommends them.
• Stage 3: Final screening and approval are carried out by the Screening Committee.

Districts such as Serchhip, Lunglei, and Khawzawl have shown commendable progress in PM Vishwakarma registrations and implementation.

The meeting also discussed ensuring timely loan disbursements, interest subvention mechanisms, improved credit linkages with banks, and comprehensive skill training plans at the district level.

Chief Secretary Pu H. Lalengmawia urged all Deputy Commissioners to proactively lead the District Implementation Committees and ensure effective and timely implementation. He also called for close collaboration with Local and Village Councils to sustain the momentum and ensure that the scheme reaches every eligible artisan.