Namchi, September 15

Over 100 participants from Namchi District gathered at the Officers’ Club, Namchi, today for an awareness programme on PM Vishwakarma Digital Marketing, organized by the MSME Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Tadong, Gangtok. The event marked the beginning of the second phase of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in the district.

According to the Assistant Director of MSME-DFO, Tadong, the first phase of the scheme involved verification, certification, and loan processing for artisans and craftsmen. The second phase, he explained, aims to introduce traditional artisans to digital platforms that can help them market and sell their products more effectively. Discussions centered on national platforms such as ONDC, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).

The AD of MSME-DFO, Balaram Choudhary, also cautioned artisans against paying for registrations through private portals, noting that certification under MSME is entirely free and should be done only via official government portals. He revealed that several individuals had fallen prey to unofficial platforms and still had not received their certificates.

Speaking at the programme, ADC Namchi, Trishang Tamang, highlighted that not all attendees were verified under MSME schemes but encouraged them to prepare for upcoming registrations, training sessions, and certifications. She emphasized that artisans from 18 recognized crafts including bamboo work, carpentry, weaving, and cobbling, can benefit from loans and free toolkits to upgrade their skills.

While discussing on marketing, Dr. PK Das remarked, “There is nothing called marketing; there is the creation of the need of a product.” He stressed that speed, accuracy, and skill are key for artisans to stay competitive in the evolving digital marketplace.

The MSME-DFO, Tadong, announced plans to host a trade fair for Sikkim’s artisans and craftsmen in a location with high public footfall. The fair will feature stalls provided free of cost to 10 of the best artisans and craftsmen selected from each of Sikkim’s six districts.