Five months on, Craftspersons, artisans struggle to register for PM Vishwakarma scheme

Traditional artisans and craftsmen in Kerala have expressed concern over not being able to register for the PM Vishwakarma scheme even after five months of its launch. Registration for the scheme, which aims to benefit families of people from 18 different traditional occupations, was done through the website pmvishwakarma.org.in, monitored by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). However, most artisans are finding it difficult to even access the website or complete their registration process.

“I went to the nearest common service center at least five times, but every time I was disappointed. The site doesn’t even load,” said Suchitra Sreekumar, a tailor seeking registration for the scheme.

The MSME Development and Facilitation Office in Thrissur is conducting awareness programs about the scheme in various districts and has made efforts to conduct registration drives.

Wood-based artisan Shibina Manoj could not find the One Time Password (OTP), which is mandatory to proceed with the registration, on her phone.

“This is a website related issue. We are also helpless,” said Abdul Nassar I, who manages an Akshaya center at Feroke in Kozhikode. “The website often gets stuck, and some users do not receive OTP. Some people are not able to submit their application due to unprecedented error in their Aadhar card. Even if the correction is made on the UIDAI website, it takes a long time for the correction to take effect,” Mr Nassar said.

Sources at the District Industries Center in Kozhikode said heavy traffic on the website was causing problems and requested applicants to keep trying.

PM Vishwakarma Yojana, launched in September 2023, was an instant hit among traditional artisans like carpenters, blacksmiths, locksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, sculptors, cobblers, masons, barbers, washermen, tailors etc. The scheme aims to provide recognition to businesses following the traditional Guru-Shishya (teacher-disciple) system.

The scheme provides them with advanced training, purchase of tool kits, collateral-free enterprise development loans, concessional interest rates and marketing support. More than 1.02 crore people across India have already registered under this scheme.

Despite difficulties, some craftsmen in Kerala too have been successful in completing registration, although they are yet to receive their identity cards.