Scheme integrates five major initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, education, and cultural heritage among minority groups.
New Delhi (Economy India): The Government of India’s flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), is steadily transforming the socio-economic landscape of minority communities across the country. Consolidating five key initiatives under one umbrella, including the well-known Seekho aur Kamao (SAK) and Nai Roshni schemes, PM VIKAS aims to promote skill development, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, and educational rehabilitation of school dropouts.
Launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), PM VIKAS streamlines government efforts to address multiple dimensions of minority empowerment while preserving cultural heritage. The initiative was highlighted by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju during a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Legacy Schemes Brought Under One Framework
The Seekho aur Kamao scheme, which started in 2013-14, has trained over 4.68 lakh minority youth in both modern and traditional sectors. It focuses on youth between 14 and 45 years, enabling them to gain employment or pursue entrepreneurship based on their skill sets and market potential.
Nai Roshni, launched in 2012-13, empowers minority women by building their leadership skills and enabling them to engage confidently with government agencies, banks, and social institutions.
Showcasing Cultural Strength Through ‘Lok Samvardhan Parv’
One of the most culturally vibrant aspects of the PM VIKAS scheme is the ‘Lok Samvardhan Parv’, an evolution of the earlier ‘Hunar Haat’ events under the USTTAD scheme. These fairs serve as platforms for minority artisans to showcase their crafts, sell indigenous products, and display culinary traditions. So far, 41 Hunar Haats and 4 Lok Samvardhan Parvs have been organized nationwide.
The government uses feedback from artisans and attendees to improve these events. Recent editions have incorporated better infrastructure, enhanced stall layouts, digital sales enablement, capacity-building workshops, and promotional campaigns to boost footfall and buyer interaction.
Entrepreneurship and Financial Support
Through the National Minority Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC), the Ministry is also promoting entrepreneurship by providing enterprise development loans and spreading awareness about other support schemes. This initiative complements the broader PM VIKAS objectives by offering a financial foundation for self-employment among artisans and micro-entrepreneurs.
Urban Outreach and Strategic Integration
The scheme has successfully held three editions of Lok Samvardhan Parv in Delhi, emphasizing urban outreach to connect minority entrepreneurs with a wider consumer base. PM VIKAS draws from past impact assessments to improve programme design, ensuring that the unified platform is both data-driven and community-oriented.
A Holistic Vision for Minority Empowerment
With its integrated approach, PM VIKAS is more than just a skill development programme—it’s a holistic model of inclusive growth. By merging employment generation, women’s leadership training, cultural preservation, and enterprise support, the scheme offers a 360-degree empowerment framework for India’s diverse minority communities.
(Economy India)
Source (PIB)
