Srinagar: Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, a tailor from Srinagar, is among the beneficiaries who received an identity card under the Vishwakarma scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Sunday.
An expert in making traditional ‘pheran’, a cloak worn by Kashmiris to ward off the winter chill, Bhat has been working for the last 40 years. He is among the 30 lakh beneficiaries whom the government intends to target under the scheme over the next five years.
Modi launched the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme on the occasion of ‘Vishwakarma Jayanti’, under which traditional craftsmen and artisans will be provided collateral-free loans at a minimal interest rate.
Besides getting recognition through a PM Vishwakarma certificate and an ID card, Bhat and other artisans and craftspeople will undergo skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the launch ceremony virtually at the Union Territory-level function organised here, and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “transformative initiative”, an official press release said.
It quoted Sinha as saying the scheme will directly benefit thousands of artisans of Jammu and Kashmir working with their hands and tools.
“Our outstanding artisans with creativity and hard work have not only preserved the priceless heritage, diverse culture and traditions but also kept the wheels of socio-economic growth moving. These hardworking hands are the strength of the progressive society,” Sinha said.
The PM Vishwakarma scheme honours the traditional skills of craftspeople and their exemplary commitment and dedication. It will ensure the Vishwakarmas are provided with financial assistance and skill upgradation and they are integrated with national and global value chains, he said.
Traditionally, Vishwakarmas are considered the drivers of growth. They are the personification of artistic power, lords of the arts, creators of diverse crafts and builders of enterprises, he said.
“Unfortunately, a discriminatory system existed in Jammu and Kashmir for decades that has imprisoned the aspirations of communities engaged in traditional skills,” he added.
Sinha said “the administration — under the guidance of the prime minister — is working to empower poor, deprived sections of society.
“I am confident that the PM Vishwakarma scheme will bring revolutionary transformation in the lives of our Vishwakarmas,” he said.
The LG highlighted the key initiatives taken by his administration for the socio-economic development of the families engaged in traditional skills and handicrafts and handloom sectors.
Handlooms and handicrafts are emerging as two very important pillars of our economy. The government has recognised more than 29 other crafts and brought them under the ambit of handicrafts and handloom sector, he said.
The Lt Governor also called upon all the sections of society to identify and isolate the elements trying to disrupt peace and development.
“Conflict profiteers have constructed their houses in foreign countries, sent their children abroad for studies and made the poor suffer. We have decimated that ecosystem and dismantled the network of such conflict profiteers. We have overcome many challenges in the last three years to bring peace and prosperity in the life of the common man,” the LG said.
The LG also highlighted the efforts to bring transparency and accountability in the governance process.
“Those who never allowed talent, merit and hard work to flourish, now have problems with the transparent, honest and accountable system. I want to tell them that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the rights of the people will always be safeguarded, only merit will be promoted and the ecosystem of good governance and transparency will be further strengthened,” he said.
Kaushal Kishore, Union Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs called for connecting maximum traditional artists and craftspeople with the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
The Union MoS commended the progress registered by Jammu & Kashmir under various schemes and also assured all support and assistance to the women folks in establishing industrial units.
Aftab Malik, chairman, District Development Council Srinagar; Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary Science & Technology; Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce; R K Dhiman, ADG,CPWD, HoDs, political leaders, officers of UT administration, large number of craftspeople and artisans were present at the UT level function, the press release said.
