Parliament Question: Traditional Craftspeople in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4728 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025 TRADITIONAL CRAFTSPEOPLE IN RAJASTHAN 4728. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to stale: (a) whether the Ministry has mapped the number of traditional craftspeople (potters, weavers, leather workers, etc.) in Rajasthan, district-wise who fall within the unregistered MSME category; (b) whether any steps have been taken to provide design innovation, market access or technology support to such artisan-led micro enterprises in Rajasthan, district-wise under schemes like SFURTI or ODOP; (c) the number of artisan clusters in Rajasthan, district-wise that have been revived or promoted under any Government scheme during the last five years; (d) whether Rajasthan has been excluded from key pilot initiatives or export-linked MSME support schemes and the reasons for such exclusion; and (e) whether the Government has consulted local Panchayats or civil society to develop a district-specific strategy to revive heritage-based MSMEs in the region? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a): The PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched on 17.09.2023 to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople of 18 traditional trades who work with their hands and tools across the country, including Rajasthan. The Scheme covers 18 trades, viz.(i) Carpenter (Suthar/Badhai); (ii) Boat Maker; (iii) Armourer; (iv) Metalsmith/Metal Caster; (v) Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; (vi) Locksmith; (vii) Goldsmith (Sonar); (viii) Potter (Kumhaar); (ix) Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver), Stone breaker; (x) Cobbler (Charmakar)/Shoesmith/Footwear artisan; (xi) Mason (Rajmistri); (xii) Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver; (xiii) Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); (xiv) Barber (Naai); (xv) Garland maker (Malakaar); (xvi) Washerman (Dhobi); (xvii) Tailor (Darzi); and (xviii) Fishing Net Maker. The district wise traditional craftspeople registered under PM Vishwakarma in the State of Rajasthan are at Annexure-I. (b): Scheme for Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), implemented by the Ministry of MSME, focuses on organizing traditional industries and artisans into collectives as manufacturing enterprises for value added production. Under the scheme, Government of India assistance is given upto Rs. 2.5 crore for regular clusters with upto 500 artisans and upto Rs. 5.00 crore for major clusters with more than 500 artisans. The traditional sectors covered under SFURTI include textiles, handicrafts, bamboo, agro-processing, honey, khadi, coir, etc.: 2 : (c): In the State of Rajasthan, 30 clusters under SFURTI have been approved in the last five years with Government of India (GoI) financial assistance of Rs 83.43 Crore. 16,529 traditional artisans are to be benefited across all approved SFURTI clusters in the state of Rajasthan. Details of the clusters are at Annexure II. Further, Government of Rajasthan has released Rajasthan ODOP Policy 2024 which provides following incentives to micro as well as small ODOP enterprises in Rajasthan:  Margin money subsidy to set up new Micro & Small ODOP Enterprises up to a maximum 25% of the project cost with maximum ceiling of Rs. 25 Lakhs.  Assistance up to 50% of the cost of acquisition for latest Technology/ Software for Micro and Small ODOP Enterprises with maximum ceiling of Rs. 5 Lakhs.  Assistance to MSMEs for participation in National/International Fairs up to 75% of stall rent (Max. Rs. 2 Lakhs) and actual travel cost for 2 persons.  Reimbursement to ODOP MSMEs up to 75% of the total fees/ commissions (excluding shipping fees) being charged by e-commerce platforms, up to a maximum of Rs. 1.00 lakh per annum for 2 years. (d): The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has established 65 Export Facilitation Centers (EFCs) across the country including Rajasthan, namely, MSME, Development and Facilitation Centre, Jaipur and MSME Technology Centre, Bhiwadi with the aim of providing requisite mentoring and handholding support to MSMEs in exporting their products and services. (e): Under PM Vishwakarma scheme, online applications are received through Common Service Centres (CSCs). The applications undergo a three-step verification which includes verification at GramPanchayat/ Urban Local Body (ULB) level at first stage.Screening of the artisans and craftspeople enrolled aredone by the head of Gram Panchayat/ Chairman of Village Council or Executive Head/ Administrator of the Urban Local Body before sending the recommended applications to the second stage headed by DC/DM. *****Annexure-I Annexure-I referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4728 for answer on 21.08.2025. Districtwise registration of PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries in the state of Rajasthan Traditional craftsperson registered under PM District Name Vishwakarma AJMER 10,038 ALWAR 13,203 BANSWARA 5,294 BARAN 8,880 BARMER 8,931 BHARATPUR 10,701 BHILWARA 6,566 BIKANER 11,756 BUNDI 10,396 CHITTORGARH 4,115 CHURU 13,787 DAUSA 13,139 DHOLPUR 3,789 DUNGARPUR 4,022 GANGANAGAR 5,302 HANUMANGARH 9,272 JAIPUR 17,124 JAISALMER 5,390 JALORE 5,204 JHALAWAR 7,685 JHUNJHUNU 6,376 JODHPUR 8,541 KARAULI 9,248 KOTA 6,256 NAGAUR 9,135 PALI 5,035 PRATAPGARH 2,168 RAJSAMAND 3,855 SAWAI MADHOPUR 3,281 SIKAR 6,365 SIROHI 2,385 TONK 9,283 UDAIPUR 5,375 Total 2,51,897Annexure-II Annexure-II referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4728 for answer on 21.08.2025. List of clusters under SFURTI in the state of Rajasthan GoI Assistance Artisans to S. No District Cluster Name Committed (Rs. be benefitted in Lakhs) Hand Embroidery and Applique 1 Jodhpur 937 353.43 Cluster Kishangarh Marble and Granite 2 281 201.10 Cluster Ajmer Millet Processing and Value 3 800 325.00 Addition Cluster 4 Alwar Tijara Fruit and Vegetable Cluster 640 233.20 5 Bamboo based Cluster 331 185.32 Banswara 6 Pulse Processing Cluster 685 311.90 7 Baran Leather Craft Cluster Baran 337 249.27 8 Barmer Handicraft Cluster 890 229.88 Barmer 9 Baytu Stone Carving Cluster 290 235.00 Bandhni & Bandhaej Tie & Dye 10 Churu 360 225.06 Cluster, Churu, Rajasthan 11 Hanumangarh Anmol Beekeeping Cluster 250 229.15 12 Jaisalmer Hand Embroidery and Craft Cluster 726 243.60 Garlic Processing and Value 13 Jhalawar 710 363.70 Addition Cluster 14 Jhunjhunu Kolsiya Tie & Dye Cluster 349 275.60 15 Metal Craft Cluster 657 305.10 Jodhpur 16 Wood Craft Cluster 889 395.23 17 Karauli Stone Carving Cluster 825 351.51 18 Kota Bee Keeping Cluster Kota 702 429.62 Guar Gum and Isabgol Processing 19 Nagaur 744 390.00 Cluster Seed Spice Processing and Value 20 Pali 965 424.00 Addition Cluster 21 Haldighati Flower Processing Cluster 403 243.92 Rajsamand Piplantri Bee Keeping Cluster, 22 300 229.79 Rajsamand, Rajasthan 23 Sawai Baroli Beekeeping Cluster 345 229.88 24 Madhopur Ranthambhore Katha Work Cluster 440 199.196 25 Sikar Leather Craft Cluster Sikar 325 248.96 26 Mighty Agro Cluster on Edible Oil 265 236.48 Sri Traditional Indian Fabric based Toys 27 Ganganagar 819 291.66 Cluster Namda Wool Art & Handicraft 28 Tonk 756 376.46 Cluster Tonk Deep Hast Shilp Wooden Toys 29 250 150.01 Udaipur Cluster 30 Wood Carving Cluster 258 180.26 Total 16,529 8343.29