Madhya Pradesh: Voice of the street seller will be raised; Interest-free loan of Rs 10 thousand to roadside vendors

Bhopal : Street vendors are an integral part of the Indian lifestyle in both urban and rural areas. The street vendors calling out in his special way from the street is recognized by every household. The buyer hears his voice and comes out to make purchases. His voice becomes a habit with people.

During lockdown in Corona, no one heard the voice of the street vendor, be it a vegetable or fruit seller or anyone else. The purchaser somehow bought essentials, but the street seller became unemployed. This class constitutes a large number and is required more. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan always stay connected with ground reality.

Understanding the reality of street vendors, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swanidhi for this section to provide working capital to a large population of urban street vendors. Under this scheme, working capital of Rs. 10 thousand will be made available to registered urban street vendors. Interest subsidy will be provided by the central and state government.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan implemented this scheme of the poor in Madhya Pradesh first. The registration process was done through the Urban Unorganized Workers Portal. As of June 29, 8 lakh 15 thousand 890 street vendors have been registered. Documents of registered vendors are being scrutinized. Street vendors will start getting loans from July 3. A target has been set to disburse loan of more than Rs one thousand crore in Madhya Pradesh. This scheme is being implemented in all 378 urban bodies. Vendors who have been selling goods in urban areas before March 24, 2020 will be included in the scheme. This benefit will be provided to those who possess a town vending certificate and identity card. Such street vendors, who have migrated to other places due to Corona pandemic and have returned will also be eligible for the scheme.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had started the registration process by launching the Chief Minister’s Urban Unorganized Workers Integrated Portal on June 6 itself. A state-level committee has been set up in the Urban Development and Housing Department for the implementation of the scheme. The process of bank-wise target setting and implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swanidhi Yojana for street vendors has been ensured in the State-level Bankers Committee meeting held on june 23 under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

The registered street vendors include, about 28.36 percent vegetable vendors, 10.27 percent vendors dealing in clothes, 7.23 percent in fruits and 6.84 percent in food and beverage business. Among registered street vendors, 62 percent are male and 38 percent are female.

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given strict instructions to officials to ensure that that the eligible vendors do not have to wander to avail benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swanidhi Yojana. Shri Chouhan felt the agony of the street vendors and ensured necessary arrangements for them to resume their trade. A budget provision of Rs 25 crore has also been made for the implementation of the scheme.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has also decided to launch the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihood Mission in all 378 urban bodies with an aim to provide employment opportunities to urban women through self-help groups. At present, the scheme is being run in only 120 urban bodies. The Chief Minister has said that this mission will provide means of livelihood to the urban poor through capacity building, self-employment, skill training, social security and cultural development. In this mission, shelters for the homeless and hawkers corners for the street vendors will be developed. Under the scheme, grants and loans will be made available to self-help groups. The government will also arrange for the marketing of the commodities made by them.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan wishes that no person of the state should bear the pain of being unemployed. Shri Chouhan has only one objective which is public welfare. To put his into effect he engaged in regular communication and discussion. He has introduced several schemes based on the suggestions given during the panchayats of different sections.