PM Vishwakarma Yojana a vision for inclusive development: CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar: “PM Vishwakarma Yojana is not just a financial support. It is the result of our great vision and a strong resolve. Through this, we will also include poor artisans and craftsmen in the mainstream of development,” said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi while addressing the PM Vishwakarma and National Scheduled Tribes and Castes Hub Conclave in Baripada on Wednesday.
Highlighting the significance of the scheme, CM Majhi emphasized that traditional artisans — such as carpenters, potters, weavers, masons, sculptors, dokra artisans, and coconut woodworkers — have long enriched India’s cultural and economic landscape. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative in launching the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in 2023 to preserve, promote, and empower these skill bearers.
“The scheme covers 18 traditional professions and is designed to identify and support Vishwakarma artisans through modern tools, training, and access to credit,” he said.
Odisha has seen notable participation with over 1,05,361 registrations. Of these, 77,103 beneficiaries have received basic training, and loans have been disbursed to 8,867 individuals. In Mayurbhanj district alone, 1,831 people have registered, 1,475 have undergone training, and 209 beneficiaries have received loans.
Encouraging youth to explore self-employment and entrepreneurship, CM Majhi cited local success stories and urged them to avail themselves of government support to build sustainable livelihoods through the MSME sector.
He also highlighted the national revival of Khadi and traditional industries under PM Modi’s leadership, noting that Khadi and Village Industries achieved a turnover of Rs 1.5 lakh crore last year — a 400 per cent rise in the past decade, with an 81 per cent increase in employment.
To further promote local products, the CM announced the establishment of a Unity Mall in Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, along with district-level stalls. These will showcase unique local crafts and cuisines under the “One District, One Product” and “One District, One Cuisine” initiatives. “The Government of India has already made the necessary financial arrangements,” he added.
Majhi underscored the inclusive nature of the current government’s welfare initiatives. “If one member of a family is covered under the Vishwakarma Yojana, the woman of the household is included in the Subhadra Yojana, and the family also benefits from the Antyodaya Griha Yojana and Ayushman Bharat. Unlike the previous government, we are fulfilling the promises we made,” he said.
Focusing on Mayurbhanj’s industrial potential, the Chief Minister revealed plans for ten new industrial projects — including steel, green hydrogen, and auto components — with a cumulative investment of Rs 7,000 crore and the potential to generate employment for over 5,000 people. An MSME park is also in the pipeline, making the district a hub for micro and small enterprises.
Union Minister for MSME, Jitan Ram Manjhi, echoed the Chief Minister’s sentiments, emphasizing that the PM Vishwakarma Yojana is a comprehensive initiative aimed at uplifting the 70 per cednt of India’s population still living in poverty. “India is primarily an agricultural country, but MSMEs generate the most employment in rural areas after agriculture. Our government is committed to addressing their needs,” he said. He noted that 4 per cent of procurement from manual profession holders will be facilitated through SC/ST hubs and that the budget allocation for the MSME sector has doubled this year.
Odisha MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallick termed MSME as the “soul of the rural economy” and reiterated the government’s focus on empowering rural youth in startups and enterprise development.
The event saw participation from key state ministers and MLAs, including Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krishna Chandra Mohapatra, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, MP Naba Charan Majhi, and MLAs from Baripada, Badsahi, Udla, Saraskana, and Bangiriposhi.
Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries and MSME Department, delivered the welcome address, while the vote of thanks was presented by the Joint Secretary, MSME Department, Government of India.
Certificates, loan sanction letters, and various forms of assistance were distributed to beneficiaries during the conclave, symbolizing the government’s commitment to nurturing grassroots entrepreneurship and reviving traditional livelihoods.