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Kurukshetra Magazine Summary

 

PM Vishwakarma Yojana Empowering Artisans

About the Scheme

• Launched by the Prime Minister of India on September 17, 2023.
• Uplifts traditional artisans and craftspeople in various trades.
• Preserves cultural heritage and integrates artisans into the formal economy.
• Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Government of India.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
• Offers a stipend of Rs 500 for skill training per day and Rs 15,000 grant for tools.

Trades Covered

• Carpenter, Boat Maker, Blacksmith, Goldsmith, Potter, Sculptor, Cobbler, Mason, Weaver, Doll Maker, Tailor, etc. (18 in total)

Benefits of the Scheme

• Recognition: ID card and certificate after registration.
• Skill Upgradation:
  • Basic training (5-7 days) with stipend of Rs. 500/day.
  • Advanced training (15+ days) with NSQF certification.
• Toolkit Incentive: Up to Rs. 15,000 through e-RUPI/e-vouchers.
• Credit Support: Collateral-free loan up to Rs. 3 lakhs at 5% interest.
• Digital Transaction Incentive: Cashback for digital transactions.
• Marketing Support: To promote products and services domestically and internationally.

Registration

• Through Common Service Centres on the PM Vishwakarma portal.
• Three-stage verification process.

Eligibility

• Artisans/craftspeople aged 18 or older in one of the 18 trades.
• Not availed loans under similar schemes.
• One member per family can register.
• Not employed by the government.

Conclusion

The scheme aims to empower artisans and craftspeople by providing end-to-end support and enabling them to compete in the market.

 

Developing Talent in Healthcare

Shortage of Healthcare Workers

• India faces a shortage of skilled healthcare workers.
• Only 0.65 doctors and 1.3 nurses per 1,000 people.
• Needs 15.4 lakh additional doctors and 24 lakh nurses.

Government Initiatives

• National Health Policy: Strengthen medical education and develop mid-level providers.
• NITI Aayog: Generate 15 lakh jobs in public health by 2022-29.
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): Bridge skill gap.
  • Functional arms: DGT, NCVET, NSDC, SSCs
  • Training Institutes: NSTIs, ITIs
  • National Skill Development Fund (NSDF)
• Target: Create 14 lakh trained healthcare personnel by 2025.
• Partnership with IGNOU for wider reach.

Boosting Talent

• Pradhan Mantri YUVA (PM-YUVA) Yojana: Promote entrepreneurship in healthcare.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): Skill rural youth for healthcare jobs.

The Way Forward

• Develop skills in early childhood care and education (rural women).
• Promote food production and marketing skills (adolescents, women).
• Train rural masses in physiotherapy, yoga, and sports nutrition.
• Train in resource conservation (food, water) and waste minimization.
• Collaborate with NGOs, private sector, and village administration for health education.

Conclusion

• Address skill gap and develop talent in healthcare, especially in rural areas.
• Empower rural population through training and entrepreneurship.

 

Encouraging Micro-Entrepreneurship

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

• Classification
  • Micro: Investment <= Rs. 1 crore, Turnover <= Rs. 5 crore
  • Small: Investment <= Rs. 10 crore, Turnover <= Rs. 50 crore
  • Medium: Investment <= Rs. 50 crore, Turnover <= Rs. 250 crore

Scope of Micro-Entrepreneurship

• Caters to local market
• Typically < 10 employees
• Creates jobs, reduces production costs, boosts purchasing power

Benefits

• Flexibility
  • Adapt to changing conditions quickly
  • Make decisions without bureaucracy
• Low Barriers to Entry
  • Require minimal initial capital
  • Allows individuals with limited resources to participate
• Job Creation
  • Promotes local economic growth
  • Reduces unemployment
• Innovation
  • More agile and innovative than larger companies
  • Adapt to changing market demands quickly
• Local Economic Growth
  • Creates jobs
  • Provides goods and services
• Self-reliance
  • Empowers entrepreneurs
  • Fosters independence
• Diverse Offerings
  • Targets specific markets
  • Provides specialized goods and services
• Economic Resilience
  • More adaptable during economic downturns

Top Schemes for Promoting Micro-Entrepreneurship

• ASPIRE (Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship)
  • Creates network of technology and incubation centers
  • Encourages innovation in agribusiness sector
  • Provides financial support for building incubators
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
  • Supports microenterprise growth through MUDRA (NBFC)
  • Offers refinancing assistance for loans up to Rs. 10 lakhs
  • Loan categories (Tarun, Kishore, Shishu) based on stage and size of business
• Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics and Information Technology (SIP-EIT)
  • Provides government support for MSME and startups filing foreign patent applications
• Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)
  • Strengthens loan delivery system for MSME sector
  • Provides discounted loans without collateral
• Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS)
  • Supports MSE procurement by government
  • Registers qualified MSEs for government purchases without Earnest Money Deposit (EMD)
  • Government sets minimum purchase thresholds from MSEs
• Extra Mural Research or Core Research Grant (CRG)
  • Assists research institutions in conducting research across science and engineering fields
• Design Clinic Scheme
  • Encourages small firms to experiment with new designs
  • Provides training and skill development in design
• Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Scheme
  • Improves quality and reduces defects in MSME products
  • Offers handholding programs for adopting new production techniques and technologies

Conclusion

• Government initiatives actively encourage micro-entrepreneurship through Startup India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Make in India programs.
• Supporting micro-entrepreneurship accelerates economic growth.

 

Integrating Technology into Rural Education

Indian Education System

• Large system with over 14.89 lakh schools, 95 lakh teachers, and 26.52 crore students.
• 70% students and 83% schools are in rural areas.
• High Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) but dropout rate remains a challenge (12.6% at secondary level).

Challenges

• Rural-urban divide in access to technology and digital literacy.

Vision of NEP 2020

• Bridge rural-urban gap through access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability.
• Foster unique capabilities and holistic development of each student.
• Emphasize technology for improved teaching-learning methods.

Government Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme-Dhruv
  • Identifies and supports talented rural students.
• Samagra Shiksha
  • Supports activities like youth clubs and eco clubs to develop student skills.
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB)
  • Promotes national integration through cultural exchange.
• Navodaya Vidyalayas
  • Provides quality education to talented rural children.
• National Talent Search Scheme (NTSE)
  • Offers scholarships and support programs for talented students.

Technological Interventions

• Enhancing ICT under Samagra Shiksha
  • Provides high-quality e-content for teachers and students.
• UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus)
  • Provides real-time data for informed decision-making.
• Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0
  • Evaluates school performance and identifies areas for improvement.
• National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR)
  • Creates a national digital infrastructure for education.
• Vidya Samiksha Kendra
  • Uses data and technology to improve learning outcomes.

Capacity Building of Teachers

• National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA)
  • Trained and certified over 24 lakh teachers across India.

Conclusion

• Technology integration is changing education, but the digital divide remains a challenge.
• Teachers are now facilitators of learning, not just knowledge providers.
• An inclusive digital ecosystem is needed for equitable education and lifelong learning.

 

Importance of Rural Entrepreneurship

• Crucial for economic growth and development
• Over 63 million MSMEs in India, 94% are micro-enterprises

Types

• • Proprietorial ownership
  • Group entrepreneurship (SHGs, Cooperatives, Producer companies)

Benefits

• Resource Utilization
  • Utilizes local raw materials and labor
• Employment Generation
  • Creates jobs in rural areas
• Reduces Migration
  • Provides opportunities in rural areas
• Promotes Artistic Activities
  • Protects and promotes traditional handicrafts and art
• Reduces Social Issues
  • Combats poverty, slums, pollution in cities
• Empowers Rural Youth
  • Exposes them to entrepreneurship as a career option
• Stimulates Economic Development
  • Reduces urban migration and social issues in cities

Challenges

• Societal and gender bias
• Lack of business and entrepreneurial skills
• Limited access to essential skills
• Inconsistent market linkages
• Competition from urban markets
• Poor infrastructure and logistics
• Limited knowledge of government support
• Lack of capital, technology, and product diversification

Roadmap to Recovery

• Skill and entrepreneurship development programs
  • Project mode: Training based on skills, location, and demographics
  • Cluster development: Provides forward and backward linkages
  • Incubation: Training and support for promising entrepreneurs

Role of Government

• Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
  • Supports new and existing businesses in rural areas
• Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)
  • Provides skill and entrepreneurship training to rural youth

Conclusion

• Rural entrepreneurship is essential for India’s economic growth.
• Government initiatives and skill development programs are crucial for success.
• Supporting aspiring rural entrepreneurs leads to a viable business model for sustainable development.