Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that 18,575 people have benefited under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in the state, with the government seeking to promote traditional occupations and create economic opportunities for local artisans.
Addressing an online event on handicrafts and small-scale industry schemes, Sawant said that 12,174 beneficiaries have undergone skill training, while 7,442 have received toolkits at their residences. He added that 18,575 people have benefited under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana in the state.
“One thousand beneficiaries have availed loans amounting to Rs 10 crore. This is a big achievement. The remaining beneficiaries will get their kits soon,” he said.
Sawant said the government was promoting local artisans and emphasised the need to preserve traditional occupations to generate economic opportunities.
He congratulated the Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation and said that artisans were also being provided opportunities to participate in exhibitions outside the state and abroad.
More than 100 artisans from Goa have travelled across the country to participate in various exhibitions, he said.
The Chief Minister also appealed to people to use traditional clay products instead of those made from Plaster of Paris (PoP), particularly during the Ganesh festival and while gifting plants.
“Plaster of Paris Ganapati idols float back into rivers and the sea. People should use clay idols,” Sawant said, stressing that the move would also provide economic benefits to the Kumbhar (potter) community.
He also urged people to use traditional clay pots for plants instead of ceramic or PoP products.
“If you gift a plant, gift it in a traditional clay pot. We should not create waste,” he said.
Sawant said traditional products made by local artisans not only help preserve Goa’s cultural heritage but can also contribute to the creation of a sizeable local economy.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme seeks to support traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill training, toolkits, credit support, and other assistance.
