A significant section of the workforce of the Indian economy consists of artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools, are usually self-employed and are generally considered to be a part of the informal

The traditional artisans and craftspeople are referred to as 'Vishwakarmas' and are engaged in occupations like Blacksmiths, Goldsmiths, Potters, Carpenters, Sculptors, etc. These skills or occupations are passed from generation-to-generation following a guru-shishya model of traditional training, both within the families and other informal groups of artisans and craftspeople. In the above backdrop, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Scheme (PM Vishwakarma) on September 17, 2023, to provide comprehensive support to artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools. It is the goal of the Scheme to offer holistic end-to-end support to the Vishwakarmas, i.e., the artisans and craftspeople, to enable them to move up the value chain in their respective trades. It will bring a qualitative shift in the way these occupations are practised by artisans and craftspeople and this will uplift their socio-economic status as well as their quality of life. The objective of the scheme in terms of the circular/directions are: To enable the recognition of artisans and craftspeople as Vishwakarma making them eligible to avail all the benefits under the Scheme. To provide skill upgradation to hone their skills and make relevant and suitable training opportunities available to them. To provide support for better and modern tools to enhance their capability, productivity, and quality of products and services. To provide the beneficiaries an easy access to collateral free credit and reduce the cost of credit by providing interest subvention. To provide incentives for digital transactions to encourage digital empowerment of Vishwakarmas. To provide a platform for brand promotion and market linkages to help them access new opportunities for growth.