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Bhopal/New Delhi, October 24 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Friday that the state government has so far provided loans worth Rs 2,078 crore to 9 lakh street vendors in urban areas under the ‘PM Swanidhi’ scheme.
Additionally, the state government has distributed over Rs 80 crore as interest subsidy to the beneficiaries, he said, adding that Madhya Pradesh is committed to providing easy loans to more and more eligible street vendors under the ‘PM Swanidhi’ scheme.
Vijayvargiya shared this information during a meeting chaired by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on Friday. Senior officials of the urban department including Vijayvargiya participated virtually in the meeting.
In the meeting, Khattar held detailed discussions with ministers of various states regarding the restructuring of PM Swanidhi Scheme and its implementation on the ground.
Presenting the report of the Madhya Pradesh government in the meeting, Vijayvargiya said that the state government is committed to providing easy loans to as many eligible street vendors as possible under the PM Swanidhi scheme in urban areas.
Vijayvargiya said that necessary instructions have been issued to all urban bodies in this regard and regular monitoring is being done. He also said that Madhya Pradesh stands first in the country in providing benefits of the scheme to street vendors.
“So far, loans worth Rs 2,078 crore have been provided to about 9 lakh beneficiaries in urban areas of the state to help them start and strengthen their small businesses. Additionally, Rs 80 crore has been distributed as interest subsidy to the beneficiaries,” he said.
PM Swanidhi Yojana is a central government initiative for street vendors that provides collateral-free working capital loans of up to Rs 10,000 for the first installment, followed by loans of Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000.
Under the new provisions, the loan tenure has been extended till March 2030. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs 7,332 crore, and it aims to benefit 1.15 crore beneficiaries, including 50 lakh new beneficiaries.
Madhya Pradesh has been recognized for its successful implementation, with cities like Ujjain and Khargone known to provide substantial benefits to sellers.
Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Commissioner Sanket Bhondve, who attended the meeting, said the urban civic body is conducting capacity building training for street vendors to help them run their businesses successfully.
He informed that the state government is organizing training camps for financial and digital literacy, e-commerce, packaging, food safety and hygiene. To bring the street vendors and their families under the ambit of social security, they are being linked to various welfare schemes.
–IANS
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