UDHAMPUR, Jul 28: MSME-Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Jammu, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India, in association with the District Administration, Udhampur, organised an Awareness Programme on Branding & Marketing for PM Vishwakarma Scheme Beneficiaries at the Conference Hall, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Udhampur.
The programme was inaugurated by Jugal Kishore, Additional District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, he emphasized the importance of preserving traditional crafts while equipping artisans with modern tools, branding strategies, digital technologies and market linkages to enhance their income and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
He urged the beneficiaries to make optimum use of the various initiatives of the Government of India for entrepreneurship and self-employment.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Ankit Sharma, Investigator (EI), MSME-DFO Jammu, who briefed the participants about the objectives of the programme and highlighted the initiatives of the Ministry of MSME aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and enhancing the competitiveness of traditional artisans.
The inaugural session also featured an address by Kishore Singh, General Manager, District Industries Centre, Udhampur, who appreciated the collaborative efforts of MSME-DFO Jammu and the District Administration in creating awareness among PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries and promoting entrepreneurship in the district.
The technical sessions covered a wide range of subjects relevant to artisans and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ajay Pal Singh, PMU Team, Jammu, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and AI Tools for Artisans, highlighting the key features of the scheme and demonstrating how Artificial Intelligence can support branding, product promotion, content creation and market outreach for traditional artisans.
A session on Loan and Banking Schemes and Financial Digital Literacy was delivered by Subash Kumar, Lead District Manager (LDM), Udhampur, who sensitized the participants about institutional finance, credit facilities, digital banking services, financial literacy and the importance of timely access to formal credit for enterprise development.
Dr. Syeda Shazia Bukhari, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, delivered an insightful session on Branding and Digital Marketing, emphasizing the significance of brand identity, customer engagement, social media marketing, e-commerce platforms and digital strategies for expanding market reach and enhancing product value.
Yashpal Sharma officer from JKEDI, Udhampur, conducted a session on Product Packaging, Labelling and Designing, highlighting the importance of quality packaging, attractive product presentation, proper labelling and innovative design in improving market acceptance and competitiveness.
Principal Govt. Polytechnic College, Udhampur, apprised the participants of various skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, focusing on vocational training, skill upgradation and employment opportunities.
Abhilash, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), conducted a practical session on QR Code Generation and Digital Account Services, encouraging artisans to adopt digital payment systems for secure and seamless business transactions.
Amit Kumar, Faculty, RSETI, delivered an informative session on the Role of Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) in Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment, highlighting various training programmes and support available for aspiring entrepreneurs to establish sustainable livelihoods.
Around 110 PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries, artisans and other stakeholders participated enthusiastically in the programme and interacted with the experts on branding, digital marketing, financial inclusion, government schemes and enterprise development. 11 QR Code were also generated on spot through IPPB DPA.
The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session followed by a Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, resource persons, participating departments, financial institutions and all the beneficiaries for their active participation and valuable contribution towards the successful conduct of the programme.