Kolkata, September 18: The PM Vishwakarma scheme completed three years on Thursday, with 30 lakh traditional artisans and craftspeople now registered under it, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said at an anniversary event held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata.
West Bengal joined the scheme only in May 2026, and the state has already received more than 7 lakh applications, West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said at the event, adding that the state government would work to give eligible artisans “facilitative support” without delay.
An exhibition of traditional arts and crafts was inaugurated at the event by union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, minister of state Shobha Karandlaje, and West Bengal officials Dipak Barman and Ashoke Dinda.
Training, tools and loans over three years
Manjhi set out the scheme’s overall reach: 24.50 lakh artisans have completed basic skill training, and 18.15 lakh have received modern toolkits delivered through India Post. Another 6.18 lakh Vishwakarmas have taken loans of up to ₹1 lakh at a concessional interest rate of 5 per cent, adding up to ₹5,297 crore disbursed so far.
Karandlaje used her remarks to focus on women taking part in the scheme, saying that “empowering women entrepreneurs will play a vital role in building stronger families, communities and a prosperous Viksit Bharat.”
What happened at the Kolkata event
More than 2,000 Vishwakarmas and panchayat functionaries attended the anniversary programme. Beneficiaries were handed PM Vishwakarma ID cards and certificates, toolkits, and cheques worth ₹1 lakh each.
The scheme, launched for traditional artisans and craftspeople across rural and urban India, runs on what the ministry calls three pillars: “Samman, Samarthya and Samriddhi,” meaning respect, capability and prosperity.