On January 2, Jammu and Kashmir made history by becoming the first Union Territory to implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY), an initiative designed to empower and enhance the skills of the craftsman community, according to officials.
The inauguration of the training program for the initial batch of 30 trainees in ‘darzi craft’ (tailoring) was conducted virtually by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, and Secretary of the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Atul Kumar Tiwari, at ITI Shopian.
Describing it as a significant step towards empowering the craftsman community through self-employment, an official spokesperson stated that Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to implement the prestigious PM Vishwakarma Yojana, with the commencement of training for the first batch in darzi craft at the Industrial Training Institute in Shopian.
Expressing pride in this achievement, Mr. Bhatnagar emphasized the administration’s commitment to fostering a culture of skill development to generate employment opportunities for the youth.
The scheme is set to be operationalized in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir soon, aiming to recognize artisans and craftspeople through PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards. Launched by the Central government in September 2023, PMVY includes basic training of five to seven days, advanced training of 15 days or more, a stipend of ₹500 per day, and a free modern toolkit worth ₹15,000 for trained Vishwakarmas.
Furthermore, the yojana offers linkage with credit-based soft loans and marketing support to help expand their businesses, officials added.
