Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme:
The Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme (PM Vishwakarma Yojana) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2023. This scheme is designed to support small artisans, craftsmen, and other workers in the informal sector who depend on traditional skills for their livelihood. The goal is to provide these workers with the necessary tools, training, and financial support to enhance their skills and improve their business outcomes.
Under this scheme, workers involved in crafts such as pottery, carpentry, tailoring, metalworking, and other such trades will receive financial aid, access to modern tools, and training programs to upgrade their skills. The scheme also aims to provide them with loans for expanding their businesses, along with an opportunity to enhance their livelihood and social status.
Key Features of the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme:
- Financial Assistance: One of the key components of the scheme is providing financial assistance to artisans and small-scale workers to help them upgrade their tools, purchase modern equipment, and improve their working conditions. The government is offering loans of up to ₹1 lakh to these workers, which they can use for business expansion or skill enhancement.
- Tools and Equipment: The scheme will provide workers with the necessary tools and equipment for their respective trades. This is crucial for improving their efficiency and output, enabling them to compete in the market with better-quality products.
- Skill Development: Workers will be provided with training programs to enhance their technical skills. The scheme emphasizes creating a skilled workforce by imparting modern techniques and knowledge to these traditional workers.
- Health and Safety: The scheme also includes provisions for providing health insurance, social security benefits, and safety measures to workers. This ensures their overall well-being, which is critical for their continued participation in the workforce.
- Market Access and Digitalization: The scheme aims to help workers digitize their operations and offer their products online, making it easier for them to reach broader markets.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s Stance:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has expressed opposition to implementing the central government’s “Vishwakarma Scheme” in Tamil Nadu. He outlined several key reasons for his opposition to this scheme:
1. Reduced Power of State Governments
M.K. Stalin has pointed out that the central government’s scheme would further complicate existing state-run programs. He believes that state governments should have the autonomy to design and implement schemes that cater to their specific needs. This, he argues, is a crucial aspect of governance, as states know their local challenges and priorities better than the central government.
2. Inadequate Resources
The Tamil Nadu government has criticized the financial support offered by the central government in this scheme, calling it insufficient. According to Stalin, the scheme lacks the necessary resources for small workers and artisans, who require better facilities, tools, and training at the state level. This lack of adequate financial assistance undermines the ability of the state to effectively implement the program.
3. Lack of Fairness and Balanced Approach
Stalin has also highlighted that the financial aid and training programs proposed under this scheme are not sufficient compared to other well-established schemes for workers in Tamil Nadu. He believes the scheme does not offer a fair or balanced approach, especially when compared to existing state-level initiatives that provide more comprehensive support to workers.
4. Prioritizing the Welfare of Workers
The Tamil Nadu government has emphasized the importance of prioritizing the welfare of its own workers over national-level initiatives. Stalin advocates for tailored state-level programs that provide training, aid, and growth opportunities specifically suited to the workers in Tamil Nadu, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach from the central government.
5. Government Neglect
Many small workers and artisans in Tamil Nadu require better guidance and support from the government to navigate the available schemes. Stalin believes that the central government’s scheme fails to offer the necessary guidance and oversight. As a result, it is seen as ineffective in addressing the specific needs of these workers.
6. Capital Expenditure and Lack of Support
M.K. Stalin has pointed out that the lack of adequate funding and human resources in the central government’s scheme would lead to its failure. Without the necessary support, the workers in Tamil Nadu would not be able to fully benefit from the scheme, he argues.
7. Limited Coverage
Stalin also pointed out that the scheme may only benefit certain regions of the country, leaving out the specific needs of smaller industries in Tamil Nadu. He believes that workers in Tamil Nadu face numerous barriers and challenges that cannot be effectively addressed by national-level schemes that overlook local context.
Cooperative and Social Welfare Concerns:
While the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme could offer significant benefits to artisans and small-scale workers across the country, Tamil Nadu has reservations about the adequacy and applicability of this scheme in the state. The state government believes that the central government should focus on empowering states to develop their own programs, taking into account local needs and challenges.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme is aimed at improving the lives and businesses of artisans and craftsmen across India by providing financial assistance, tools, and skill development. However, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has decided not to implement the scheme in the state, citing the inadequacy of the central support offered and emphasizing the need for state-specific solutions. The state government has opted to continue focusing on its own welfare programs, which it believes better serve the needs of its artisans and workers.
Prime Minister Vishwakarma’s plan too.. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s opposition… why..!?
