70 stalls set up at artisan fair at Punjab Trade Centre in Ludhiana

An exhibition-cum-trade fair was organised by the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for artisans and craftsmen under the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme at Punjab Trade Centre in Ludhiana. The three-day event that began here on Thursday would conclude on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the PM Vishwakarma scheme for the benefit of artisans and craftsmen in the country on September 17 last year. The scheme was designed to support craftspeople engaged in 18 traditional trades. It provides recognition to artisans/craftsmen, basic and advance training, a toolkit of up to Rs 15,000, loans up to Rs 3 lakh at subsidised interest rate of 5 per cent per annum, marketing support and incentives for digital transactions.

To provide marketing support to the artisans and craftspeople in Punjab and Chandigarh, an exhibition-cum-trade fair was inaugurated by Sanjeev Chawla, Additional Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME. Beneficiaries showcased their products at the event. Around 70 stalls were allocated to artisans and craftspeople, who came from various districts of Punjab.

The ministry officials visited the stalls and interacted with the participants, encouraging them to avail the benefits of the scheme. A seminar was also organised, during which all aspects of the national scheme were explained to the participants. Ishita Thaman, Assistant Director, MSME, Ludhiana, gave a presentation about it. She said stalls had been set up by banking institutes and skilling department to provide support. “There is also a provision of registration for beneficiaries, who were yet to enrol themselves under the scheme, at the stalls by the common service centre,” she said.

She added that the motive of the exhibition-cum-trade fair was to provide marketing support to exhibitors.