A Lok Kalyan Mela at the DC’s office in Chümoukedima provided street vendors assistance with PM SVANidhi loans, bank linkages, digital payments and access to government welfare schemes.
DIMAPUR — A Lok Kalyan Mela aimed at facilitating access to government welfare and livelihood schemes was organised at the deputy commissioner’s office, Chümoukedima, on September 24, with a focus on the Prime Minister’s Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.
Addressing the gathering, Lemlila Sangtam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Chümoukedima, and Executive Officer, Chümoukedima Town Council (CTC), stressed the importance of taking government schemes directly to eligible beneficiaries and providing proper guidance to help them access available benefits.
According to a DIPR report, the PM SVANidhi scheme provides collateral-free working-capital loans to eligible street vendors. The first tranche offers loans of up to INR 15,000, followed by up to INR 25,000 under the second tranche for beneficiaries who repay the first loan on time.
A third tranche of up to INR 50,000 is available to eligible vendors seeking to expand their businesses.
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The scheme also provides a 7% annual interest subsidy for timely repayment and encourages digital transactions through incentives. Eligible beneficiaries can also access UPI-linked RuPay credit card facilities.
The Lok Kalyan Mela provided assistance to eligible vendors with loan applications, bank linkages, digital payment onboarding and QR-code facilities.
Awareness was also created on various central and state government welfare and social-security schemes.
The initiative seeks to promote financial inclusion, strengthen the livelihoods of street vendors and small entrepreneurs, and ensure that government welfare programmes reach eligible beneficiaries at the grassroots level.