The ruling BJP government at the Centre has come up with another copy scheme – ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ which is akin to the BC Bandhu scheme being implemented by the ruling BRS party in Telangana state. Here the scheme envisages granting Rs. One lakh to the artisans, a one-time grant to empower them. But the Vishwakarma Yojana of the BJP government comes with a lot of strings attached to it. It is not a grant but a loan at five per cent interest.
The procedure of obtaining benefits under the scheme is cumbersome and impractical. The selected artisans should undergo professional training once again and they would be given Rs. 15,000 in the first instalment to upgrade their tools. The loan comes in instalments and artisans have to follow cumbersome procedures.
The BJP eyeing the ensuing elections in various states has come up with schemes. It proposes to give loans to 30 lakh artisans across the country. It may be noted that the Modi government copied the Mission Bhagiratha scheme envisaging tap water for every household and Rythu Bandhu – an annual input financial assistance to farmers launched by the BRS government in Telangana state. CM KCR has been reiterating what the Telangana practises the country follows. It has come true once again indeed.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao