PM Modi speaks to beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Scheme from UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people of the country to not to become lenient about precautions related to Corona during this festive season and with the strict adherence to social distancing we will be able to defeat the deadly virus.

He was speaking to the beneficiaries of PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Modi said that many government schemes like Jandhan, Ayushman, Ujjwala, PM SWANidhi have helped people of the country to fight the Corona pandemic in the better way and we showed the world that people of country can face any challenge and turn the situation around.

He said that the banks are now reaching the poor in the country and it is the result of the continuous work of the government.

Speaking about the PM Svanidhi scheme, Mr Modi said that such scheme for street vendors was introduced for the first time after independence in the country.

The swift implementation of the scheme is significant, not only is the process fast and digital but also there is no need for a middleman to get the benefit of the scheme.

He said that street vendors have a significant role in the economy of big states like UP and it will also play an important role in decreasing the rate of migration due to unemployment.

The scheme was launched on 1st of June 2020, by the Union Government to help the street vendors resume their livelihood activities that were impacted by COVID-19. It aims at facilitating working capital loan up to Rs. 10,000 at a subsidized rate of interest.

On this occasion, loan under the scheme was transferred to around three lakh beneficiaries of Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister also spoke to a few beneficiaries on the occasion. Talking to PM, Preeti from Agra told that with the Rs. 10,000 provided under the Svanidhi scheme, she restarted her business of vegetables and fruits.

She said, schemes like transfer of money into account and getting food grains through PDS scheme helped her a lot during lockdown. The Prime Minister also encouraged her to do maximum transactions through digital payment which will in turn give her more benefit.

Another beneficiary Arvind from Varanasi told the Prime Minister that he sells momos and coffee at Durgakund in Varanasi and the monetary help from the Swanidhi scheme helped him a lot and he doesn’t even have to go to the officials for the formalities.

Vijay Bahadur, another beneficiary of this scheme from Lucknow said that he was able to expand his business with the money he got under the scheme. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and State Ministers were also present in the function which was telecast in all districts of state.

The function of virtual interaction with the Prime Minister was organized in all 651 local bodies of state.

Arrangements were made for live broadcast at these places with adherence to all the social distancing guidelines.

Under the PM SVANidhi Scheme, around seven lakh street venders have been identified in the state and more than 6.40 lakh have applied for loan under the scheme. State Government has approved loan of around 3.62 lakh vendors out of which around three lakh vendors got the money today.