CHANDIGARH: In a major push to modernize and formalize local craftsmanship, the Department of Industries, U.T. Chandigarh, in collaboration with the MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Ludhiana, organized a focused awareness session on Monday under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
The event, held at Government Polytechnic in Sector 10-D, was specifically aimed at educating traditional artisans about lucrative export opportunities while underscoring the critical importance of formal business registration and financial inclusion.
On-the-Spot Financial and Digital Inclusion
A key highlight of the session was the immediate, practical assistance provided to the attendees to help them integrate into the formal digital economy.
During the program, authorities actively guided the artisans through bureaucratic processes, resulting in concrete deliverables:
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Business Formalization: Aadhaar-based Udyam Registration Certificates were successfully facilitated and issued to 12 beneficiaries on the spot.
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Digital Banking: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) accounts were successfully opened for 13 participants.
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Payment Infrastructure: QR codes were generated for these accounts, enabling the artisans to easily accept digital payments and strengthen their commercial presence.
Leveraging AI and E-Commerce
Moving beyond basic financial inclusion, the session also provided forward-looking business strategies. The participating artisans were heavily sensitized to the rapid shifts in modern commerce.
Experts at the session guided the artisans on utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and major e-commerce platforms to drive aggressive business growth. Discussions focused on comprehensive entrepreneurship development, identifying new market linkage opportunities, and maximizing the benefits of secure digital transactions.
The Department of Industries reiterated its ongoing commitment to undertaking similar grassroots initiatives. The overarching goal remains to continually empower traditional artisans by massively improving their access to government schemes, encouraging rapid digital adoption, and enhancing their active participation in both domestic and international export markets.
