Vijayawada: AP chief secretary Dr. K.S. Jawahar Reddy on Friday directed officials to take steps for registering 2.50 lakh artisans in the state when the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY) is launched on September 17 for providing financial support to artisans within India, including Andhra Pradesh.
At a review meeting with officials, Dr. Jawahar Reddy underlined that 100 per cent funds will be provided to those who make handicrafts in the traditional way using hand tools. The scheme will be implemented for five years from 2023 to 2028.
He underlined that eligible handicrafts persons will be given training in utilising modern tools and designs. They will also be extended loan and marketing facilities. 18 types of handicrafts are eligible for training and funding under this scheme, namely, carpenters, boat makers, blacksmiths, weapon makers, hammer and other tool makers. lock repairers, sculptors, goldsmiths, potters, cobblers, masons, basket makers, mat makers, broom makers, toy makers, barbers, flower garland makers, tailors and fish net weavers.
The chief secretary said those eligible under the scheme will be given a loan of ₹1 lakh for business development as the first installment. After this loan is cleared, another ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh loan will be provided as an unsecured loan with 5 per cent fixed interest as second installment of loan. He said tools worth ₹15,000 will be provided to each beneficiary at concessional rates.
When the crafts persons are undergoing training, each of them will be given a stipend of ₹500 per day, along with food and accommodation. They will be paid for making every digital transaction of ₹25 and above through their bank account, subject to a maximum of 100 transactions per month. Marketing and branding facilities will be provided to every eligible beneficiary.
Dr. Jawahar Reddy said those who are 18 years and whose family occupation is among the crafts mentioned are eligible, subject to one person per family. However, no one in that family should have a government job or should have received a loan from a bank or under any other scheme during the last five years. Eligible candidates can register free of charge at Common Service Centres in grama / Ward secretariats identified by the central government, while also submitting documents like Aadhaar card, mobile number, bank pass book and ration card.
In a separate review on MSME development initiatives with officials of the industries department at his camp office in Vijayawada on Friday, Dr. K.S. Jawahar Reddy said Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government is making special efforts to promote micro, small and medium industries. As a follow up, he directed officials of industries department to ensure that adequate support is provided to aspirants, so that they can establish such units in a timely manner. He reviewed the progress of various types of units registered under MSME programmes.
The CS asked officials about the progress of MSME Technology Centres being set up at Kopparthi and Guntur. He reviewed the YSR AP One platform, which is being designed to facilitate services related to the MSME sector. Industries department secretary Dr. N. Yuvaraj made a PowerPoint presentation on various initiatives being undertaken for promotion of the MSME sector in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Secretary (Handloom and Textiles) K. Sunitha and industries commissioner and MSME CEO Praveen Kumar were among the officials who participated in the meeting.
