Rs 2 lakh loans for artisans under PM Vishwakarma Yojana

District Collector Dr BR Ambedkar has announced that under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, loans of up to Rs 2 lakh will be extended to individuals involved in 18 different caste-based professions, handicrafts, and traditional occupations. He emphasised the government’s commitment to empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople.
“The Vishwakarma Yojana is a lifeline for our artisans. Those with a government-issued Vishwakarma ID card will first undergo five days of basic training. Post-training, they will receive a Rs 15,000 tool kit as an incentive,” Dr Ambedkar explained. He added that these artisans will also be eligible for Rs 1-lakh loan at a five-percent interest rate from the bank as an initial instalment to kickstart their businesses. “This loan must be repaid within 18 months. Once the repayment is complete, beneficiaries will undergo another 15 days of advanced training and then be eligible for a second loan of up to Rs 2 lakh at the same favourable interest rate,” he noted. A district-level committee meeting was convened in the Collector’s Chamber on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the scheme. The meeting focused on scrutinising the applications received from the Vishwakarma portal in the district. “We have received 5,584 applications from various artisans under this scheme, which are currently being processed by the DPO and DRDA at the village level and by the urban MEPMA PD,” Dr Ambedkar informed. He stressed the importance of re-verification within the next two days to ensure that applicants are actively engaged in their respective professions and are truly eligible for the loan.
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