Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday informed the Centre that his Government will not implement the Prime Minister’s Vishwakarma Scheme as the State’s request for modification was not heeded to.
In a demi-official letter to Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, he said in January he had written to the Prime Minister expressing the State Government’s opinion and request for modification in the Vishwakarma scheme, rolled out by the Centre.
Stalin said, in the light of concerns raised that the scheme strengthens the system of caste-based vocation, the Government of Tamil Nadu had constituted a committee to study the scheme. This committee after detailed study and analysis, had recommended modifications to the scheme, which he had brought to the attention of the Prime Minister.
The State had suggested that the mandatory need for the applicant’s family to be traditionally engaged in a family-based traditional trade be removed. Instead, any person pursuing any of the occupations listed in the guidelines should be eligible for assistance under the scheme.
Besides, it said the minimum age criterion can be increased to 35 years so that only those who have made an informed choice to continue their family trade can avail of benefits under this scheme.
In addition, the State had suggested that the onus of verification of the beneficiaries in rural areas be vested with the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) from the Revenue Department instead of the head of the Gram Panchayat.
In March, the Union Minister of MS&ME had responded to the State but there was no mention of the modifications suggested.
“The Government of Tamil Nadu, will, therefore, not be taking forward the implementation of the PM Vishwakarma scheme in its present form,” Stalin said.
However to empower artisans in Tamil Nadu under the overall principle of social justice, the Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to develop a more inclusive and comprehensive scheme for artisans, which does not discriminate based on caste.
“This scheme will provide holistic support to all artisans in the State, irrespective of caste or family occupations. Such a scheme will serve to provide them with financial assistance, training and all required support for their development, more comprehensively and inclusively,” the Chief Minister said.