Jammu, Sept 8 (KNN) A Union Territory Level Monitoring Committee (UTLMC) has been formed to monitor the rolling out of the Prime Minister Vishwakarma scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the scheme in this year’s annual budget.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the scheme at different locations of India including Jammu and Kashmir on September 17.

With a financial outlay of Rs 1300 crore approved for five years i.e., from 2023-24 to 2027-28.

The Scheme aims at supporting traditional artisans and craft-persons of rural and urban India, associated with 18 traditional trades.

UTLMC will ensure active participation of stakeholder departments and agencies of the J&K government facilitating implementation of the Scheme.

J&K government ordered the constitution of UTLMC and District Implementation Committee (DIC) on September 6, vide order number 1071-JK(GAD) of 2023, for overseeing the monitoring and implementation of this Prime Minister’s Vishwakarma scheme in the UT.

UT Level Monitoring Committee will be responsible for the operational implementation of the scheme at the Union Territory level and it will have the Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department as its chairman.

Its other members will include Administrative Secretaries of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department; Housing and Urban Development and IT Departments or their representatives not below the rank of Additional Secretary; Joint Director, MSME DFO, J&K and Ladakh; a representative each of Finance; Planning Development & Monitoring; Skill Development Departments, not below the rank of Additional Secretary and convenor, UTLBC, J&K.

Director Industries and Commerce Kashmir and Jammu will be its member convenors.

The panel will facilitate agencies of MSDE in providing skill training to the beneficiaries; ensure coordination among banks and financial institutions for smooth provisioning of credit support to the beneficiaries; facilitate IT-ITeS related support in implementing the Scheme and create awareness about the Scheme at Gram Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) level in the UT.  (KNN Bureau)