Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that PM Vishwakarma Yojana has been implemented in West Bengal. Under this, all the craftsmen including women artisans of 18 trades will get facilities like skill training, toolkit and loan without guarantee.
New Delhi [भारत]July 23 (ANI): The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing its PM Vishwakarma scheme in West Bengal in collaboration with the state government. This information was given by Union Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The implementation of PM Vishwakarma has started in the state of West Bengal after the Government of West Bengal issued a notification for the formation of State Monitoring Committee and District Implementation Committees to roll out the scheme in the state on May 14, 2026.
Artisans will get many benefits under PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The minister in his written reply said, “Under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, women artisans engaged in 18 notified occupations are eligible for benefits including skill training, toolkit incentives, loan assistance without guarantee, incentives for digital transactions and marketing assistance. Through the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), a total of Rs 5.82 crore loans have been disbursed in the state of West Bengal since its inception, i.e. from April 8, 2015 to June 26, 2026, the Minister said in his written reply. The amount is Rs 3.55 lakh crore.”
Other Government Initiatives for Women Entrepreneurs
He further said, “The government has taken several initiatives for potential women beneficiaries across the country, including Sunderbans-based women entrepreneurs and fishermen. Under the Enterprise Registration Portal (UR) and Enterprise Assistance Portal (UAP), registered women-owned enterprises are eligible to avail benefits under various schemes of the Ministry, including access to priority sector loans.”
Other policies include Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), Skill Upgradation and Women Coir Scheme, and Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme.
MSME initiative to promote innovation
Their written reply said, “The incubation component of the MSME Innovative Scheme of the Ministry of MSME is aimed at promoting innovation, supporting new ideas and facilitating the transformation of concepts into viable business ventures. It plays a vital role in strengthening the MSME and start-up ecosystem by nurturing early-stage ideas. It supports the process of incubation through Host Institutes (HIs), which facilitate business across the country. There are educational institutions and innovation centers functioning as incubators (BIs). Currently, there are 23 Host Institutes (HIs) in West Bengal, and each approved idea is eligible for financial assistance up to a maximum of Rs 15 lakh.”
18 trades included in PM Vishwakarma Yojana
PM Vishwakarma Yojana was launched on September 17, 2023, to provide holistic support to artisans and craftsmen of 18 traditional occupations who work with their hands and tools. The scheme covers 18 occupations, namely carpenters, boat makers, gunsmiths, metal artisans, tool kit makers, locksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, sculptors/stone carvers, cobblers/shoe artisans, masons, basket/mat/broom makers, toy makers (traditional), barbers, garland makers, washermen, tailors and fishing net makers. (ANI)
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