Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 15: A 3-day ‘PM Vishwakarma Exhibition-cum-Trade Fair’ got underway at ITF Ground, Sri Vijaya Puram here today with an objective to provide recognition and marketing support to the Traditional Artisans and Craftspeople of 18 Trades working with their hands and tools who are covered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
Br. MSME-Development & Facilitation Office (Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India), Sri Vijaya Puram is organizing the event in coordination with UT Administration of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, inaugurated the Fair by cutting the ribbon as the chief guest.
In his address, the Chief Secretary said that PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in the year 2023 which aims to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople of 18 trades who work with their hands and tools. He said, this scheme was of paramount importance and there is great enthusiasm about this scheme among people.
The Chief Secretary stated that MSME is very much associated with common people’s day-to-day life fulfilling their needs in different fields. PM Vishwakarma scheme enables people/artisans to prepare good products, so that they get good price in the market. He expressed happiness that those who are associated with this Scheme has put up their stalls in this ‘Exhibition-cum-Fair’.
The Chief Secretary stated that artisans’ skills are matchless because they are preparing art & crafts since ages. Their products are not a factory product but crafted through their skills utilizing their brain with utmost patience, the Chief Secretary said. He desired that such type of Fair should also be organized in Car Nicobar, Mayabunder and Diglipur.
The inaugural function was also attended by Additional Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, GoI, Dr. Ishita Ganguli Tripathy, IES, Secretary Industry, Dr. Satyendra Singh Dursawat, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, N&M Andaman, Ms. Nandini Maharaj, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars, Shri Amit Kale and senior officials of MSME from mainland and Sri Vijaya Puram.
In her keynote address, Additional Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, GoI, Dr. Ishita Tripathy, IES, at the outset, thanked the UT Administration for helping MSME branch Sri Vijaya Puram in organizing this Fair. Under this Scheme, the target was given to cover 30 lakh beneficiaries in five years. Till, January 15th morning, a total of 26.4 lakh beneficiaries have been covered, she added.
In her address, the GM, NABARD, A&N Regional Office as the guest of honour, stated that NABARD through its skill development programme has provided training to near about 9000 ladies.
Earlier, the Joint Director & HoD, IEDS, MSME-DFO, Kolkata, Shri Pradip Kumar Das welcomed the chief guest and others present on the occasion while the inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Assistant Director, In- Charge, Br. MSME-DFO, Sri Vijaya Puram, Shri GK Sinha.
About 90 stalls have been set up at the Fair, of which, the number of PM Vishwakarma stall is 50, MSMEs/Artisans stall is 20 and Govt. Department stall is 20. The Exhibition which was inaugurated today is open to general public from 9.30 am to 9 .30 pm till Jan. 17. Cultural event will be organized tomorrow (Jan. 16) as part of the fair during which, song and dance performance will be put up by Kalapani Band from 5 to 9.30 pm. The other attraction of the Fair are handicrafts stall, food stalls, and free amusement for children. Activities scheduled for Jan. 16 include drawing, quiz and dance competitions for which, Programme Coordinator, Ms Soni can be contacted over phone no. 09933276189.
During the 3-day event, sessions on various topics like Financial Assistance Schemes, Marketing Support Schemes, Technology Upgradation Schemes for Prospective/Existing Entrepreneurs/MSMEs/Startups; Public Procurement Policy 2012; e-Commerce Platform; Bar Code Registration; Intellectual Property Rights; Import-Export Policy and Procedures; GeM Portal; etc. have also been planned for the technical session.
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