The PM Vishwakarma Scheme has been rolled out in West Bengal in collaboration with the State Government following the constitution of the required monitoring and implementation committees, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Shobha Karandlaje said the Government of West Bengal issued a notification on May 14, 2026, constituting the State Monitoring Committee and District Implementation Committees, enabling implementation of the scheme in the state.
The minister said women artisans engaged in any of the 18 notified traditional trades under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme are eligible for a range of benefits, including skill training, toolkit incentives, collateral-free credit support, incentives for digital transactions and marketing assistance.
Karandlaje also informed the House that under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), a total of 5.82 crore loans amounting to Rs 3.55 lakh crore have been sanctioned in West Bengal since the scheme’s launch on April 8, 2015, up to June 26, 2026.
She said the Centre has undertaken several initiatives to support women entrepreneurs across the country, including women entrepreneurs and fisherfolk in the Sundarbans region.
According to the minister, women-owned enterprises registered on the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Portal are eligible to avail benefits under various MSME schemes, including access to Priority Sector Lending.
She added that other support measures include the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana, and the Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme.
Highlighting support for innovation, the minister said the Incubation Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme promotes new business ideas and supports their transformation into viable enterprises through recognised Host Institutes, which function as business incubators.
Karandlaje informed the Lok Sabha that 23 Host Institutes are currently operational in West Bengal, with each approved innovative idea eligible for financial assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh.
Launched on September 17, 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme provides end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople engaged in 18 traditional trades, including carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery, tailoring, masonry, cobbling, basket making, barbering, fishing net making and other hand-based occupations.
-ANI
