Empowering Tradition with Tech: Kaushambi Artisans Master AI, ONDC & Digital Payments at MSME Workshop

Kaushambi :  In a major step toward modernizing traditional crafts, the MSME Development Office, Prayagraj—under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India—hosted an impactful one-day awareness program titled "Branding, Marketing, and AI under PM Vishwakarma Yojana" at Government ITI, Sirathu, Kaushambi. The initiative aimed to equip traditional artisans with cutting-edge tools, including Artificial Intelligence, e-commerce, attractive product packaging, and financial literacy.

Attended enthusiastically by 110 PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries, the event commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting. Welcoming the gathering, Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Director at MSME-DFO Prayagraj, underlined the essential role of digital marketing and tech-driven branding for modern enterprise survival. L.B.S. Yadav, Director of MSME-DFO Prayagraj, encouraged artisans to adopt modern technologies like AI to expand their market reach globally under the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision.

The workshop featured specialized technical sessions designed to offer practical, hands-on value to attendees:

Product Development & Packaging: Dr. Anshuman Srivastava from the Indian Institute of Packaging, Lucknow, highlighted the power of attractive packaging and quality standards in standing out in competitive markets.

AI Integration: Deepa Srivastava, Manager at Govt. ITI Sirathu, conducted a practical session introducing artisans to AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for client interaction, business development, and digital branding.

Financial Access: Banking procedures and loan schemes were detailed by Naveen Jha (LBM, Bank of Baroda), while Amit Kumar Singh (IPPB) championed digital payment adoption. Notably, IPPB generated instant payment QR codes for 10 artisans on the spot.

E-Commerce & ONDC: Shivshankar Agrahari from ONDC guided participants through digital market integration. By the end of the session, 8 artisans were successfully onboarded onto the ONDC network, granting them direct market access to sell online.

The event concluded with an interactive open-house discussion and feedback session, followed by a vote of thanks from Sanjay Kumar. By combining traditional craftsmanship with AI and digital platforms, the event successfully bridged the gap between local artisans and the modern digital economy.