1.55 lakh artisans registered for training
Jammu, Budgam lead enrolments
Carpenters, tailors, masons top list
Srinagar, Jun 15: Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the leading performers under the Government of India’s PM Vishwakarma Scheme, with 1,55,032 artisans and craftspeople registered for training and 1,43,775 beneficiaries selected for toolkit support across the Union Territory, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) dashboard.
The scheme, launched by the Government of India to provide end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople, covers 18 notified trades, including carpentry, tailoring, masonry, blacksmithing, barbering, pottery and cobbling. Beneficiaries receive skill training, toolkit incentives, collateral-free credit support and market linkage assistance.
As per the data accessed by Rising Kashmir, the district-wise data show that Jammu district leads with 22,043 registrations, closely followed by Budgam with 21,902 registrations. Other districts recording significant participation include Anantnag (11,960), Baramulla (10,116), Pulwama (8,814), Udhampur (7,997), Kulgam (7,710) and Kathua (7,659). At the lower end of the spectrum, Rajouri (1,845) and Reasi (1,858) reported the fewest registrations.
Trade-wise, carpenters constitute the largest beneficiary group with 44,900 registrations, followed by tailors (37,005) and masons (33,920). Barbers accounted for 11,246 registrations, while blacksmiths, basket makers and sculptors also recorded notable participation.
The age profile indicates strong youth engagement in the programme. The 25–40 years age group accounts for 70,058 registrations (45.2%), followed by the 40–50 years category with 41,399 beneficiaries (26.7%). Registrations among artisans aged 18–25 years stood at 13,978, while 21,496 beneficiaries belonged to the 50–60 years category. Another 8,103 registrations were recorded among artisans aged 60 years and above.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched in September 2023, seeks to strengthen traditional occupations through skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, digital transaction support, marketing assistance and concessional credit, thereby enhancing the livelihoods of artisans and preserving India’s traditional crafts.
