Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the 'PM Vishwakarma Scheme' virtually on September 17 from Delhi, coinciding with 'Vishwakarma Day'. This event will see the participation of 70 ministers from diverse locations across the country. The scheme, which was introduced by PM Modi during his Independence Day address and subsequently approved by the Union cabinet, holds significant promise.

Prominent ministers, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who will be joining from Ahmedabad, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who will attend from Lucknow, are among those set to be part of this momentous occasion. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will be present in Nagpur, Smriti Irani in Jhansi, Bhupender Yadav in Jaipur, and S Jaishankar will participate from Thiruvananthapuram. Other ministers have also been designated to attend the program, mainly in their respective home states.

The 'PM Vishwakarma Scheme' is earmarking Rs 130 billion for investment over the next five years in the skill training and development of traditional artisans and craftsmen from communities such as weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and barbers, predominantly belonging to the OBC community.

This initiative aims to enhance the quality, scale, and accessibility of products and services crafted by artisans, integrating them into both the domestic and global value chains. The ultimate goal is to empower economically marginalised workers, especially those from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward communities, women, transgender individuals, and other vulnerable segments of society.

Considering the political landscape, as the opposition focuses on the caste census for social justice and aims to increase its influence among the OBC community, the NDA government is strategically reaching out to OBCs, particularly EBCs, with this scheme ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

It's worth noting that September 17 also marks PM Modi's birthday, and the BJP plans to commence a two-week-long celebration on this day. This celebration will include activities such as a cleanliness drive, interactions with beneficiaries of government schemes, and engagement with various sections of society, continuing until October 2.