Gandhinagar, May 31 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually interacted with a beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana hailing from Mehsana in Gujarat and appreciated him for choosing to be a "job creator" instead of becoming a "job seeker".
The beneficiary, Arvind Patel, told the prime minister that he had availed a loan of Rs 7.20 lakh to expand his business of setting up decorative pavilions for marriages and other events in and around Mehsana in north Gujarat.
"Earlier, my business was limited and only eight people used to work for me. Then, I took the loan under the PM MUDRA Yojana to expand my business and purchase more decorative items. Now, I have hired 12 persons for my business," Patel told the prime minister during the virtual interaction.
Modi, who was in Shimla to address the Garib Kalyan Sammelan marking the 8th anniversary of the BJP-led Central government, interacted via video link with beneficiaries of different government schemes across the country.
"You have inspired many others by taking a loan for expanding your business. You have become a job creator instead of a job seeker," Modi told Patel.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana was launched by the PM in 2015 for providing loans up to Rs 10 lakh to small and micro enterprises.
The PM also appreciated Patel for ensuring that all his workers are vaccinated against coronavirus and helping them get the Ayushman Bharat card to avail of free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries watched the virtual interaction at the state-level event organised at Mahatma Mandir, a convention and exhibition centre developed by the state government.
At the venue, the CM interacted with some of the beneficiaries present on the spot and urged others to avail themselves of government schemes if eligible.