CM distributes loans to 817 vendors
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 25 2020: Chief Minister N Biren Singh distributed loans to 817 vendors of different districts to support them in resuming their vending activities which have been affected by the lockdown.

368 street vendors were benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor's Atmanirbhar Nidhi-PM SVA Nidhi and 449 regular licensed vendors including 14 from hill districts were provided assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)-SHISHU.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that Manipur is comparatively better in COVID-19 situation as compared with other States.

It was due to the timely decision taken by women vendors to close the three Ima Keithels, he observed.

The Chief Minister said he visited Khwairamband Ima Keithel on March 19 and discussed with women vendors about the gravity of the situation, upon which they readily agreed to close all the three Ima Keithels from the next day.

N Biren said that the Government understands the financial difficulties which the vendors have been facing for the last five months.

As such, the Government has decided to extend financial help in the form of loans to them under two different Government schemes in consultation with different banks so that they may start their livelihood anew, he added.

The Chief Minister further said that loans would be provided to a total of around 20,000 vendors from different parts of the State.

He further said that he had requested the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to allow utilization of funds from the Ministry in hill district headquarters as well.

PM SVA Nidhi was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on June 15, 2020.It is a special micro credit scheme for providing affordable working capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been affected due to COVID-19 lockdown.

The scheme is valid until March 2022.Under this scheme, street vendors, who were vending within the limits of an urban local body as on 24th March, 2020, can avail working capital loan of up to Rs 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments within the tenure of one year.

On timely and early repayment of loan, an interest subsidy of 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on quarterly basis.

The scheme promotes digital transactions through cash back incentives up to an amount of Rs 7100 per month.

The vendors can avail the facility of escalation of the credit limit on timely/early repayment of loan.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)-SHISHU was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015 for providing loans to non-farm small micro enterprises.

The amount of loan disbursed ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,50,000 .

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Health Minister L Jayantakumar, CAF & PD Minister Karam Shyam, Public Health Engineering Minister L Dikho, Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister N Kayisii, Agricultural Minister V Hangkhanlian, Forest and Environment Minister Awangbow Newmai and MLAs of different Assembly Constituencies also attended the function.

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