The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs which converges five erstwhile schemes viz. ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’ and ‘USTTAD’ & ‘Hamari Dharohar’ schemes and focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through the following: - Skilling and Training (Non-traditional and traditional) - Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship - Education (through National Institute of Open Schooling) - Infrastructure Development (through Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram) The scheme also provisions to facilitate credit linkages by connecting beneficiaries with loan programmes offered by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is a knowledge partner of the Ministry under the PM VIKAS scheme to extend support to artisans trained under traditional training components of the scheme in terms of (i) providing marketing linkages; (ii) development of related Course Module content for training; (iii) provide brand positioning & visual merchandizing to the artisan products; (iv) organise awareness program during Ministry’s events/exhibition; (v) mobilise artisans for formation of producer group companies; etc.

Under the PM VIKAS Scheme, the implementing partners are to ensure placement of 75 per cent of total candidates trained under NSQF aligned skill programmes.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.