SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 28: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, through the Branch MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Srinagar, in association with the District Administration, as per an official statement, organised one-day Awareness Programmes under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme across the districts of Kulgam, Budgam, Srinagar, and Shopian for beneficiaries who had successfully completed third-stage verification.
Officials from the District Administration, including Dr. Nasir Ahmad Lone, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Shopian; Dr. Zahid Rashid Khan, Functional Manager, DIC Shopian; General Manager, DIC Budgam; Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Budgam; Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Budgam; Principal, ITI Kulgam; IPO Kulgam; and other officials from the district administrations, underscored the significance of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in empowering traditional artisans and crafts people by enhancing their skills, providing financial assistance, and facilitating market linkages.
Mohammed Tariq Ishtiaq, IEDS, Assistant Director, Br. MSME DFO Srinagar, provided insights into the objectives of the PM Vishwakarma Awareness Programme. He stated that the Ministry is committed to ensuring that the scheme’s benefits reach every corner of the region and emphasized the capacity building of artisans through enhanced skills, modern tools, and improved market access. He highlighted that the scheme enables traditional artisans to transform their inherited skills into sustainable enterprises and stressed the importance of digital empowerment and onboarding onto e-commerce platforms to enhance competitiveness.
An E-Commerce and Digital Marketing session was delivered by faculty members from Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST). The session focused on online marketing strategies, effective use of social media for brand promotion, adoption of digital payment systems such as UPI, and onboarding onto various e-commerce platforms. The experts provided practical guidance to help participants expand their market reach, enhance customer outreach, and adopt technology-driven approaches for sustainable business growth.
Financial Literacy sessions were conducted by the respective Cluster Heads of the districts from Jammu & Kashmir Bank. They provided guidance on basic banking services, credit support available under the scheme, and responsible borrowing practices. They also emphasized the importance of secure digital transactions such as UPI and mobile banking, along with maintaining financial discipline and ensuring timely repayment for sustainable business growth.
All four events collectively witnessed the participation of more than 300 Vishwakarma artisans and concluded with interactive discussions and an assurance of continued handholding support to all registered beneficiaries under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
