Small businesses have suffered the most with the onset of the pandemic. And a major chunk of government profits actually stems from the profits of these small businesses, which makes sense why the Make In India initiative is prioritised lately. The Odisha government, understanding the plight of craftsmen who have been without a job, and thereby without a definitive source of income, has launched the Mukhya Mantri Karigar Sahayata Yojana.

About the Odisha Mukhyamantri Karigar Sahayata scheme 2021

The government of Odisha will provide, under the implementation of the scheme, ₹800 as a monthly allowance to craftsmen with a minimum of 10 years experience to support them financially. In order for a craftsman to avail of the benefit, the annual income of the beneficiary must be less than one lakh.

As an extension of its efforts, the Mukyamantri Karigar Sahayata Yojana will provide financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month to craftsmen over the age of 80 years. The Directorate of Handicrafts is going to be the nodal department of the implementation of the scheme in the state.

The state government of Odisha will even constitute a selection committee at the district level under the supervision of collectors of the respective districts. 

What is the eligibility to avail of the benefits of the Karigar yojana?

Here are the factors that deem an applicant eligible to avail of the benefits of the scheme: 

Through the implementation of this scheme, craftsmen of the state feel looked after, and they will finally be able to make ends meet at least in some way or another. And while everyone is very aware of how just a ₹1000 or ₹800 relief will not account to much, it does at least help the specific craftsman add up or invest in his or his family’s future.

Wrapping it up

While the only way to apply for this scheme in the state stands to be the offline mode, the online procedure for the same will begin soon too. 

However, with the implementation of this scheme, a lot of households in the state of Odisha will benefit as they can breathe a sigh of relief. Even before the pandemic, craftsmanship was a dying trade as westernisation and the speeds of manufacturing it brings along with it were more in demand as it met with the demand-supply requirement. 

As people found speedy providence of items a more convenient thing, the eye for the finer things in life closed as people fell out of the habit to appreciate true finesse in the products they buy. With the scheme introduced in Odisha, crafts and the love of handcrafted items is definitely going to make a comeback, in a world as chaotic as now, little old-fashioned items will do a world of good.