Parliament Question: Implementation of USTTAD Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *57 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF USTTAD SCHEME *57. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS:

(a) the details of the number of artisans and craftsman trained under the USTTAD Scheme during the last five years, State and district-wise particularly in Bihar;

(b) the amount allocated, released and utilised under the scheme during the said period, year and State-wise;

(c) whether any post training employment tracking, credit linkage, market linkage or entrepreneurship support has been provided to the beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the details of initiatives undertaken to preserve, promote, brand and market traditional crafts of minority communities including participation in exhibitions, e-commerce platforms and export promotion activities? ANSWER MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the house. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 57 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 ASKED BY HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED REGARDING “IMPLEMENTATION OF USTTAD SCHEME”.

(a) The USTTAD scheme was launched in 2015-16 for targeted capacity building and upgrading traditional skills of master crafts persons/ artisans. Under the scheme, a total of 21,611 beneficiaries were trained across the country, out of which 544 beneficiaries were trained in the state of Bihar. The USTTAD scheme was converged as a traditional training sub-component of PM VIKAS Scheme in the year 2021-22, under which a total of 11,220 trainees has been allocated to Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). However, no project under traditional component of PM VIKAS is allocated in the state of Bihar.

(b) The aforesaid schemes were implemented as a Central Sector Schemes through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). Therefore, no fund allocation was made to States/ UTs under the scheme.

The amount allocated, released and utilised under the USTTAD and PM VIKAS schemes during

the past five years is as under: (Rs. In crore) 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Scheme Actu Fund Actual Fund Fund Actual Fund Actual Fund Actual name al allocated Exp allocated allocated Exp allocated Exp allocated Exp Exp USTTAD 47 76.68 47 10.61 - - - - - - PM VIKAS Committed - - - - 215.98 209.42 200 203.35 112.1 62.97 Liabilities PM VIKAS - - - - 109.88 0 30 0 200 143.03 (c & d) Artisans and craft persons trained under USTTAD scheme were provided support for self- employment and SHG formation. They were also provided marketing linkages through Hunar Haats, which was re-christened as Lok Samvardhan Parv (LSP) in 2024. Through these programs, opportunity is given to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products. The event has been designed not only to promote the traditional crafts but also to foster an innovative and entrepreneurial environment for marketing, export & online business, design, GST and sales, etc., by organising workshops with support from institutions like the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). So far, 41 Hunar Haats and 06 Lok Samvardhan Parvs across the country have been conducted.

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