28/10/2025
Awareness Programme on PM Vishwakarma Scheme Ensures Essential Support to Traditional Artisans and Craftspeople of Gyalshing District
Gyalshing, October 28 (IPR): A day-long awareness programme on the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, organised by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)-Development and Facilitation Office, Gangtok, under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, in association with the office of the District Collector, Gyalshing, was held here today at the Assembly Hall of Gyalshing District Zilla Panchayat.
The programme efficiently motivated budding entrepreneurs from various sectors to avail of the extended opportunity provided by the Government of India under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. It is pertinent to mention here that the scheme holds a prominent correspondence with the aspiration of the State Government's tireless efforts and undertaken initiatives.
The District Collector, Gyalshing, Mr Tenzing D Denzongpa graced the event as Chief guest and expressed gratitude to the Commerce and Industries Department, Gyalshing, and MSME Gangtok officials for conducting the awareness programme on the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in the district, which efficiently aligns with the vision of the Chief Minister of Sikkim, 'One Family, One Entrepreneur'.
DC Gyalshing in his address, underlined the significant role of panchayats, imperative for saturated implementation of the scheme in the district. He even advised eligible beneficiaries to avail themselves of the extended opportunity and be exemplary for aspirants of the highly lucrative venture of digital marketing. Mr Denzongpa suggested attendees to take due advantage of the technological advancements and broaden their entrepreneurial venture by honing the requisite skills. He anticipated witnessing a surge of success stories in the field from the district and assured his unconditional support to the aspirants.
Mr Denzongpa even advised Lead Banks functioning under the district to assist the applicants on matters related to loans and duly refrain from creating unnecessary difficulties while availing them. He advised attendees to take proper heed of the information shared in the programme and disseminate it at the GPU level for effective and grassroots implementation of the beneficial approach of the PM-Vishwakarma scheme in the district.
Assistant Professor, Sikkim University, Mr PK Das, also the Resource Person of the day, extensively deliberated on the subsidiary topics of Digital Marketing that included Online Selling, Finding Market Trends and Building Digital Literacy, Branding and Packaging, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Government e-Marketplace (GeM), a video presentation on the step-by-step procedure for availing the benefits of the scheme, and success stories.
Deputy Superintendent, Department of Post, Sikkim State Postal Region, Mr Monojit Chandra, apprised about the features of Speed Post, Parcel Post, Domestic and International Post, pricing details of availing the service, tracking facility, transit time, transport network, special measures of India Post, Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra, and the crucial function of the Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Team Lead, SL-PMU PM Vishwakarma Scheme, Commerce and Industries Department (C&ID), Mr Joydeep Chakravorty, briefly highlighted the stage-wise training session facilitated at the ITI Gyalshing under the scheme.
Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Gangtok, Mr Nirmal Chowdhury, earlier in his welcome address, provided updates on the implementation of the scheme. He informed that in the first phase, more than 30 lakh registrations were recorded nationwide, under which artisans benefited through the distribution of modern toolkits, issuance of unique artisan identity cards, and provision of collateral-free concessional loans at 5% interest.
Mr Chowdhary also highlighted the key digital marketing platforms, namely, Open Network for Digital Marketing (ONDC), Government e-Marketplace, Laghu Udyog Portal, and e-commerce platforms like Amazon.in, Flipkart.com, Meesho.com, and social media platforms, which he believes have the potential to introduce Sikkim's local products like Dalley Khorsani (Cherry Pepper) and Traditional Handicrafts to global markets.
The primary objective of the programme was to empower and support traditional artisans and craftspeople of the district with essential knowledge, requisite training and ensure seamless access to government schemes aimed at the enhancement of market integration and business development.
The day long event also had the presence of the Panchayat representatives, Inspector District Industries Centre Gyalshing, entrepreneurs, and artisans of Gyalshing district.
Report from DIO Gyalshing
