Nagpur, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a big event in Wardha to celebrate the first anniversary of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He mentioned how special the day was because, in 1932, Mahatma Gandhi started his campaign against untouchability on this date. Celebrating Wardha, a place connected to Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, made the occasion even more meaningful.

The event was attended by Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi and Jayant Chaudhary, and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

During the celebration, PM Modi launched two new schemes: the 'Acharya Chanakya Skill Development' and the 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme'. He also gave certificates and loans to people benefiting from the PM Vishwakarma Yojana and released a special stamp to mark the occasion.

Modi highlighted that the government is focused on creating a better future through skill development, inspired by Gandhi's idea of turning labour into prosperity. He expressed disappointment that past governments didn’t give enough respect to traditional skills. Under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, more than 20 lakh people from 18 different traditional crafts have been trained, with over 8 lakh artisans receiving skill training.

He added that over 6 lakh artisans have been given modern equipment, and many have received loans of up to Rs 3 lakh without guarantees to help grow their businesses. So far, Rs 1,400 crore in loans have been given out in one year.

Modi also emphasized that communities like SC, ST, and OBC, which are involved in traditional crafts, have often been neglected by past governments. He shared his vision for artisans to become entrepreneurs and business owners and mentioned efforts like 'One District One Product' and Ekta Mall to help market their products. He also praised platforms like ONDC and GEM for assisting artisans to expand their businesses.

The Prime Minister talked about the importance of Maharashtra’s farmers and said that the government's efforts, like providing crop insurance for just Rs 1 and waiving electricity bills, aim to make farming more prosperous. The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is also part of these efforts.

The 'Acharya Chanakya Skill Development scheme will train around 1,50,000 youth annually in Maharashtra to help them find jobs and become self-reliant. The 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme will provide financial help of up to Rs 25 lakh to women-led startups, with 25% of the funds reserved for women from backward classes and economically weaker sections.

Governor Radhakrishnan, CM Shinde, and other leaders also spoke at the event, praising the new initiatives for boosting Maharashtra’s growth.