Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday, 3 May 2025, reaffirmed the state government's commitment to uplifting clay artisans and traditional craftspeople, announcing a series of welfare measures including the establishment of a Mati Kala Centre of Excellence and a ₹9 crore Shilpgram in Dungarpur. Speaking at his official residence in Jaipur, Sharma said the "Double Engine Government" — referring to aligned BJP governments at the state and Centre — is working with "unwavering commitment" towards every section of society.

Key Announcements for Clay Artisans

Chief Minister Sharma announced the launch of the Mati Kala Centre of Excellence, aimed at providing artisans with modern tools, training, and market linkages. Through the Mati Kala Board, 1,350 artisans have already been provided free electric potter's wheels and clay-kneading machines. The approved ₹9 crore outlay for a Shilpgram (Artisan Village) in Dungarpur is expected to create a dedicated hub for pottery and clay craft.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the book Mati Rajasthan Ri and honoured distinguished members of the Kumawat community with the Mati Ke Lal award for their achievements across various fields.

PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Loans and Training at Scale

Sharma highlighted the reach of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, under which artisans across 18 trades — including carpenters, sculptors, potters, and masons — are being offered loans at a concessional interest rate of 5 per cent. According to the Chief Minister, by 2025, training has been imparted to over 2 lakh beneficiaries, while loans have been disbursed to more than 53,000 individuals.

This comes amid a broader national push to formalise and financially empower traditional artisan communities, many of whom have historically operated outside institutional credit frameworks.

Pension, Education, and Youth Welfare Measures

The Chief Minister Vishwakarma Pension Scheme has been launched for labourers, street vendors, and folk artists, providing a monthly pension of ₹3,000 upon attaining the age of 60 years. Monthly hostel assistance for students from these communities has been raised to ₹3,250 per student.

Notably, provisions have been made to issue Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates alongside birth certificates upon students' successful completion of Class 8 — a measure designed to reduce bureaucratic delays in accessing welfare entitlements.

On the youth employment front, approximately 3.5 lakh individuals have been provided skill training, and under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Sambal Yojana, internships are being offered to nearly 2 lakh youth. Smart classrooms have also been established in 144 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Community Delegation and Government Response

The event was triggered by a delegation representing the Kumhar, Kumawat, and Prajapat communities, which called on the Chief Minister to express gratitude for recent budget announcements and ongoing welfare initiatives. Joraram Kumawat, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy, Gopalan, and Devasthan, said that Mati Kala is "regaining its past glory" and that artisans are gaining recognition at national and international levels.

Prahlad Rai Tak, Chairman of the Shriyade Mati Kala Board, noted that policy decisions under Sharma's leadership have significantly boosted the clay art sector and that modern equipment is being deployed to promote self-employment among youth.

With the Mati Kala Centre of Excellence yet to be operationalised and the Dungarpur Shilpgram still in the construction phase, the government's follow-through on these commitments will be closely watched by artisan communities across Rajasthan.