- Deputy Chief Minister Interacts with Street Vendors; ‘Swanidhi Mahotsav’ Organized by the Urban Administration Department and SUDA
- Banks and Urban Bodies Recognized for Outstanding Performance; Beneficiaries Receive Cheques, UPI Payment Boxes, and Certificates of Appreciation
- Information Provided on Financial Literacy and Digital Payments; Event Features Food Stalls, Exhibitions, and Street Plays
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Administration and Development, Shri Arun Saw, attended the ‘Swanidhi Mahotsav’ held today at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in the capital, Raipur. During the event, he engaged directly with street vendors, inquiring about their businesses, families, and the positive changes brought to their work and lives through the PM Swanidhi scheme. He presented cheques, UPI payment boxes, and certificates of appreciation to the beneficiaries. He also visited the food stalls set up by the street vendors within the auditorium premises. Member of Parliament Smt. Lakshmi Verma, MLAs Shri Motilal Sahu and Shri Purandar Mishra, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt. Meenal Chaubey, and Chairperson Shri Suryakant Rathore were also present at the event.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Saw honored the banks, their branches, and urban local bodies that demonstrated excellence in the implementation of the PM Swanidhi scheme. The festival also served as a platform to educate street vendors on financial literacy and digital payments. The event featured exhibitions, cultural programs, and street plays. Organized by the Urban Administration and Development Department and the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), the festival was themed ‘Steps Towards Excellence’ under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM Swanidhi) scheme.
Interacting with the street vendors, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw remarked that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the PM Swanidhi scheme after recognizing the challenges faced by hardworking individuals. This scheme has provided small business owners with an opportunity to move away from dependence on moneylenders, connect with banks, and grow their enterprises. A ‘Developed India’ (Viksit Bharat) can only be built by ensuring the welfare of those at the very end of the social spectrum.
He remarked that government schemes often reflect the vision and empathy of the leader behind them. During the harrowing period of the COVID-19 pandemic—when streets were deserted, businesses had come to a standstill, and countless people faced a crisis regarding their livelihoods and the sustenance of their families—Prime Minister Narendra Modi took note of the plight of small-scale street vendors. In June 2020, he launched the ‘PM SVANidhi’ scheme to provide financial support to these individuals, enabling them to rebuild their businesses.
Addressing the street vendors, Mr. Sao urged them never to consider their work insignificant. Those who earn a living through pushcarts, stalls, or roadside shops are a vital component of the city’s and the state’s economy. Their hard work not only sustains their own families but also fulfills the daily needs of the city. He encouraged the beneficiaries to commit to the continuous growth of their businesses, suggesting that every beneficiary should aim to reach the third phase of the scheme—securing a loan of ₹50,000—to further expand their operations. He expressed hope that the next ‘PM SVANidhi Mahotsav’ would be filled with entrepreneurs who have successfully accessed the third phase of the loan and also possess UPI-linked credit cards.
In her address, Member of Parliament Smt. Lakshmi Verma noted that the PM SVANidhi scheme allows those in need to obtain loans without the requirement of a guarantor. Furthermore, those who repay their loan installments on time receive an interest subsidy of seven percent. This scheme represents a significant step toward an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). Mayor Smt. Meenal Chaubey stated that the Raipur Municipal Corporation has set a target to benefit 53,000 street vendors by the year 2030. To date, more than 33,000 street vendors in the city have already benefited from the scheme. He urged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the PM SVANidhi scheme to expand their businesses and achieve economic empowerment.
Shri Sonmani Bora, Principal Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, provided information regarding the objectives and provisions of the PM SVANidhi scheme during the event. He noted that more than 123,000 street vendors in Chhattisgarh have benefited from the scheme, enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute to the economies of both the state and the nation. He emphasized that everyone involved is firmly committed to the effective implementation of the scheme within the state. He further instructed urban local bodies and banks to extend the benefits of the scheme to as many street vendors as possible, with a sensitive approach, and to provide them with the necessary financial and technical support.
The event was attended by a large number of participants, including Shri Nileshkumar Kshirsagar, Director of the Urban Administration and Development Department; Shri Sumeet Agrawal, CEO of SUDA; and Shri Sambit Mishra, Commissioner of the Raipur Municipal Corporation. Also present were various municipal councilors, public representatives from urban local bodies across the Raipur division, government officials, bank representatives, and beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi scheme.