Amit Shah calls on BJP workers to reach OBC community through Centre’s PM Vishwakarma Yojana

New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a review meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders over the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana launched by PM Modi on his 73rd birthday last month.
The meeting which lasted for over four hours also holds significance as the BJP is planning to reach the people belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, which accounts for around 80 per cent of beneficiaries of the Vishwakarma scheme, a party source said.
The meeting, apart from Shah, at the BJP Central Office Extension here in the national capital, was attended by the party's national president JP Nadda; party's national general secretary Tarun Chugh; BJP OBC Morcha chief and general secretary K Laxman and Sangam Lal Gupta respectively; party MP Locket Chatterjee; Uttar Pradesh party MLA Srikant Sharma, and Vishwakarma Samaj people.
The party source told ANI that Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the Vishwakarma scheme. "He gave a 'mantra' to reach to the OBC community through the scheme and will make a team of party members tasked with the work of the proper implementation of the Yojana," he said.
The source said that to date two lakh people from the Vishwakarma community have registered under the scheme and a total of 30 lakh families will register in five years. "Every year nearly six lakh people will register," he added.
PM Vishwakarma will be fully funded by the Union Government with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore. The artists will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training, toolkit incentive of Rs 15,000, collateral-free credit support up to Rs 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs 2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5 per cent, incentive for digital transactions and marketing support.
Eighteen traditional crafts will be covered under PM Vishwakarma. These include Carpenter; Boat Maker; Armourer; Blacksmith; Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; Locksmith; Goldsmith; Potter; Sculptor, Stone breaker; Cobbler (Shoesmith/ Footwear artisan); Mason (Rajmistri); Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver; Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); Barber; Garland maker; Washerman; Tailor; and Fishing Net Maker. (ANI)