On March 11, a seminar cum awareness program regarding the PM Vishwakarma scheme, its registration process, and approval procedures was chaired by Sanjeev Khirwar, the Principal Secretary of UT Ladakh, at the DC conference hall. Santosh Sukhadeve, the Deputy Commissioner of Leh, was also in attendance.
The main aim of the seminar was to streamline the registration process and increase the participation of beneficiaries in the scheme. Participants were briefed on the training opportunities, provision of toolkits, and access to credit and market support available for eligible individuals under the Vishwakarma scheme.
The Principal Secretary stressed the importance of engaging more people and spreading awareness to ensure wider adoption of the scheme’s benefits. He emphasized the need for all pertinent information about the scheme to reach the intended beneficiaries, with the primary goal being to nurture and promote the creativity of individuals in Ladakh. Furthermore, he highlighted that the scheme aims to preserve traditional crafts by empowering artisans with the necessary skills and knowledge to not only sustain but also thrive in their crafts.
In discussing the scheme’s objectives, he underscored the importance of having well-trained individuals to showcase the economic viability of continuing ancestral professions to the world.
While acknowledging these achievements, the Principal Secretary also addressed challenges such as improving both the quality and quantity of training, establishing feedback mechanisms, boosting publicity through social media and other channels, and encouraging greater involvement of women in the scheme.
Deputy Commissioner Santosh Sukhadeve praised the collective efforts of those involved in making the Vishwakarma scheme accessible to the public, noting the significant number of applications received and approved as a remarkable achievement for the region.
The meeting was attended by various officials including the District Panchayat Officer, Block Development Officer, Superintendent of ITI, Superintendent of Handloom, Assistant Director of Handicraft, Executive Officer of the Municipal Committee, and the C2 District Manager of CSC, Leh.
