With the noble aim of empowering artisans in Tamil Nadu and promoting them as entrepreneurs, a comprehensive scheme has been developed and issued by the government under the name of Kalaignar Craft Scheme for Tamil Nadu, as per the orders of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
This scheme has been designed to benefit people from all walks of life involved in 25 types of handicrafts and industries, not just family businesses. Through this scheme, loans, skill development and entrepreneurship development training will be provided to start new businesses and expand existing businesses in a modern way.
Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai has said that the Vishwakarma scheme brought by the Central Government and the Kalaignar Craft Scheme of the Tamil Nadu Government are one and the same.
The rules for joining the Central Government's Vishwakarma Scheme state that "the beneficiary should be engaged in a family-based traditional profession and should be 18 years of age on the date of application. At the same time, they should be engaged in that profession before applying.Furthermore, basic and advanced training should be provided, necessary equipment should be provided to them, and loan assistance should be provided.
The Tamil Nadu government did not join the scheme, saying that this encourages students to join their family businesses before the age of 18 and that there is a risk of reducing students' interest in pursuing higher education and pushing them into clan businesses. It is said that a scheme should be developed that does not encourage ancestral trade and does not spoil the students' dream of higher education, but at the same time helps those who engage in this type of trade. The 'Artist Craft Project' is implemented entirely with funds from the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The minimum age limit for joining this scheme is 35. It has been designed to benefit those engaged in 25 handicrafts and not on the basis of family/class. Therefore, it has been designed by the Tamil Nadu government to help only those engaged in handicrafts without any prejudice to students and without narrowing it down to any class. It provides loans and training assistance to everyone without discrimination.
The Central Government has a scheme to encourage tribal businesses. The Tamil Nadu Government has a scheme to encourage all sections of society to start businesses on the basis of social justice. This is completely different from the Central Government's Vishwakarma scheme. Many are spreading wrong information without understanding this.
If we understand the vast difference between the two, we can be sure which program will uphold social justice!