PM Vishwakarma and MSME Schemes Support Women Artisans and Entrepreneurs

**Executive Summary** This document outlines various government initiatives aimed at supporting women artisans and entrepreneurs through credit guarantees, capacity building, skill development, and marketing support. Key schemes mentioned include the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), PM Vishwakarma, and the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI). Actions are being taken to enhance women's participation in micro enterprises, with a focus on increased registration and procurement mandates. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS)** * Provides credit guarantees for loans to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from Member Lending Institutions (MLIs). * Offers an enhanced credit guarantee coverage of 90% for women-led MSEs, compared to 75% for others. * Includes a 10% relaxation in the guarantee fee for women-led MSEs. * **PM Vishwakarma Scheme** * Offers capacity-building support to artisans and craftspeople through Basic Skill Training (5-7 days) and Advanced Training (15+ days), including stipend support. * Training modules cover entrepreneurial orientation, financial literacy, and digital literacy. * Provides guidance on using modern tools and equipment relevant to their trades. * Offers marketing support, including onboarding on e-commerce platforms and product branding/promotion. * Benefits traditional artisans and craftspeople, including women, engaged in 18 trades. * **Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)** * Provides capacity-building and digital marketing training through cluster-based interventions. * Includes soft interventions like general awareness, counseling, motivation, and trust-building. * Focuses on skill development and capacity building across the value chain, emphasizing digitization. * Supports institution development, exposure visits, design, product development, and participation in workshops and technology upgradation. * Facilitates artisans' onboarding onto e-commerce platforms and digital marketing channels through Nodal Agencies. * **Initiatives to Enhance Women's Participation** * Special drives are conducted for the registration of women-owned MSMEs. * The Public Procurement Policy mandates at least 3% of annual procurement from women entrepreneurs by CPSEs/Ministries/Departments. * Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) provides credit-linked subsidy and facilitates micro-enterprise establishment, with approximately 40% of beneficiaries being women who receive a higher subsidy (35% vs. up to 25% for others). * 'Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana' under Coir Vikas Yojana offers exclusive training for women artisans in the Coir sector. * Participation in trade fairs under the Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme is subsidized at 100% for women entrepreneurs, compared to 80% for others. * The ‘Yashasvini’ campaign aims to create awareness about MSME schemes and provide handholding and capacity-building support to women entrepreneurs. **Impact Analysis** * **Women Artisans and Craftspeople** * **Impact**: Enhanced access to credit with reduced collateral requirements and lower guarantee fees. Improved skills through various training programs, including basic and advanced skill training, financial and digital literacy, and specialized training for specific sectors. Increased market access through e-commerce platform onboarding, branding, and promotion support. Opportunities for participation in trade fairs with higher subsidies. * **Action Required**: Participate in skill development programs, training modules, and specialized schemes like PM Vishwakarma and SFURTI. Register their enterprises and explore available credit guarantee facilities. * **Women Entrepreneurs** * **Impact**: Increased opportunities for procurement through the Public Procurement Policy mandate. Access to credit-linked subsidies and support for establishing micro-enterprises via PMEGP. Enhanced market access and visibility through trade fair participation and e-commerce onboarding. * **Action Required**: Leverage the Public Procurement Policy for business opportunities. Apply for PMEGP and other relevant schemes. Engage with Nodal Agencies for e-commerce and digital marketing support. Participate in the 'Yashasvini' campaign for awareness and continued support. * **Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) - Women-Led** * **Impact**: Benefit from an enhanced credit guarantee coverage of 90% and a 10% relaxation in the guarantee fee under CGS. * **Action Required**: Avail of the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for obtaining loans. * **Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), Ministries, and Departments** * **Impact**: Required to procure at least 3% of their annual procurement from women entrepreneurs. * **Action Required**: Implement the Public Procurement Policy mandate to source at least 3% of annual procurement from women entrepreneurs.

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