The PM Vishwakarma Yojana is expected to give a new boost to the sewing machine industry in Ludhiana. This scheme, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in the country, has been welcomed by Ludhiana’s sewing machine industry. Under this scheme, skill development training is being provided to both men and women to learn tailoring, and after the training, free sewing machines are also given. The Ministry of MSME has issued a tender for purchasing machines.
In the pre-bid meeting regarding the supply and distribution of toolkits under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Sanjeev Singh, a sewing machine industry expert from Ludhiana who attended the meeting in Delhi, mentioned that Ludhiana holds the largest share in the country’s sewing machine industry, with many small factories producing thousands of sewing machines each year. The affordable, durable, and excellent sewing machines made here, like Lakshmi, Gemini, and Rita, are sold across the country. The local machines are especially designed to meet the needs of Indian artisans and are built for rough and tough use. Therefore, when the government buys machines from small producers under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, it will not only boost MSMEs but also create large-scale local employment. The creation of local jobs in manufacturing, assembling, and distribution will provide economic support to traditional artisans and enhance the productive capacity of local industries.
Industry expert Rajiv Kumar mentioned that if the government directly buys tailor kits from local MSMEs, it will be around 30% cheaper than buying from large brands. While large brands like Singer and Usha don’t manufacture their sewing machines but rely on third-party manufacturers with limited production capacities, this makes their machines more expensive in comparison to local brands. Even a large company like Singer has a production capacity of just over 75,000 units per year and relies on third parties to fill the gap. On the other hand, MSMEs like Gemini, Rita, Lakshmi, and others have an annual verified production capacity of 760,000 sewing machines and have been leading domestic manufacturers for decades due to their competitive prices and low operating costs.
Market expert Rajiv Kumar also said that as MSMEs, industries like Lakshmi, Gemini, and Rita could offer bulk discounts or better terms for large orders, making them an attractive option for government tenders or large-scale purchases. This would not only fulfill the objectives of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana but also strengthen traditional industries and promote skilled employment.
