The Ministry of MSME and Government of West Bengal have moved ahead with the roll-out of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, focusing on artisan empowerment, skill development, financial access, modern tools, and MSME support across the state.

PM Vishwakarma Scheme, West Bengal artisans, MSME Ministry, traditional craftspeople, skill development, MSME Testing Centre Kolkata, transformer testing facility, artisan empowerment

 

New Delhi/Kolkata, May 22, 2026: The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is set to be rolled out in West Bengal, marking an important step toward strengthening the traditional artisan and crafts ecosystem in the state. The development follows a high-level meeting between Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, and Shri Manoj Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, on May 22, 2026.

The meeting focused on accelerating the implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in West Bengal, improving beneficiary identification, strengthening skill development systems, and ensuring wider outreach among traditional artisans and craftspeople.

According to the official release, the Government of West Bengal has recently issued a notification for the constitution of the State Monitoring Committee and District Implementation Committees for the roll-out of PM Vishwakarma in the state. This institutional framework is expected to support structured implementation at both state and district levels.

 

West Bengal has a strong base of traditional artisans, craftspeople, and MSME-linked livelihood clusters. Dr. Rajneesh highlighted that the state has significant potential for successful implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme due to its rich craft heritage and traditional skill ecosystem.

As per the release, 7.79 lakh artisans and craftspeople are currently enrolled under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in West Bengal.

The scheme, launched by the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, on September 17, 2023, aims to support traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill upgradation, modern tools, formal financial access, digital enablement, and market linkage opportunities.

 

The discussions between the Ministry of MSME and the Government of West Bengal focused on strengthening implementation mechanisms and ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive timely support under the scheme.

Key areas discussed included:

Dr. Rajneesh emphasized that PM Vishwakarma is an important national initiative for preserving India’s traditional skills while helping artisans become more competitive through modern support systems.

 

During the meeting, Shri Manoj Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, appreciated the continued support of the Ministry of MSME towards MSME development in the state. He also reiterated the State Government’s commitment to effective implementation of central sector schemes.

A separate meeting was also held with Shri Rajesh Pandey, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME & Textiles Department, Government of West Bengal, along with state officials and bankers. The meeting covered detailed modalities for outreach, coordination, and implementation of PM Vishwakarma across the state.

The involvement of bankers is particularly important, as the scheme includes financial access and credit-linked support for eligible artisans and craftspeople.

 

During his visit, Dr. Rajneesh also interacted with MSME associations in West Bengal and briefed them about flagship programmes of the Ministry of MSME. The interaction focused on facilitating the growth and development of MSMEs through scheme awareness, institutional support, technology services, and improved access to government initiatives.

The activities of the Technology Centre and Testing Centre at Kolkata were also reviewed. The review aimed to expand technological, tooling, and testing support available to MSMEs in West Bengal.

 

As part of the visit, Dr. Rajneesh inaugurated the Transformer Testing Facility at MSME Testing Centre, Kolkata, on May 21, 2026.

The newly established facility is expected to provide affordable, reliable, and standardized transformer testing services under one roof. It will support testing for a range of capacity-oriented transformers, including both step-up and step-down transformers, in line with industry and utility requirements.

This facility is expected to benefit MSMEs engaged in transformer manufacturing by reducing their dependence on distant laboratories and lowering testing turnaround time.

 

The roll-out of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in West Bengal is expected to provide a major boost to traditional occupations, artisan-led livelihoods, and micro-enterprise development. With 7.79 lakh artisans already enrolled, the state has a strong base for scaling the scheme across districts.

The initiative is also aligned with the larger national agenda of strengthening the MSME sector, promoting local enterprise, preserving traditional skills, and improving livelihood opportunities through skill development and institutional support.

 

For West Bengal, which has a long-standing tradition of handcrafts, textiles, metal work, wood work, pottery, and other artisan-based activities, the scheme could play a significant role in connecting traditional skills with modern tools, formal markets, and improved financial systems.

 

 

 

The planned roll-out of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in West Bengal marks a significant development for the state’s traditional artisan and MSME ecosystem. With institutional committees now notified and 7.79 lakh artisans already enrolled, the scheme is positioned to strengthen skill development, improve access to modern tools and credit, and create better market opportunities for craftspeople.

The inauguration of the Transformer Testing Facility at MSME Testing Centre, Kolkata, further adds to the state’s MSME support infrastructure and is expected to benefit local manufacturing units by providing accessible and standardized testing services.