Kolkata, Jul 10 (PTI) A hawkers body has suggested to
the Centre to push the loan disbursal under PM SVANidhi
programme to September for the beneficiaries.
The scheme 'PM Street Vendor's Atma Nirbhar Nidhi',
(PM SVANidhi) launched this month aims to offer microloans up
to Rs 10,000 at a subsidized rate to overcome COVID-19
pandemic crisis to about 50 lakh micro vendors. The scheme
offers cash backs to encourage adopting digital payments.
The portal is open for digital applications and more
than 40,000 vendors have raised demand for loan and more than
300 have been sanctioned.
"If the disbursement of loans begins immediately we
believe the street vendors would spend the loan money to make
ends meet as 70 per cent have not been able to restart their
activity and are already in deep trouble. The consequence of
this is that they would not be able to repay the loan,"
National Hawkers' Federation general secretary Saktiman Ghosh
told PTI.
"The benefits of the loan will go in vain. In our
opinion, the process should continue, but the disbursement of
the loans should start in September, 2020," Ghosh said.
He said the Federation has drawn the attention of
Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in this regard
through a presentation.
Ghosh said 70 per cent of the street vendors cant
vend all over India. In most states, 30 per cent of the street
vendors commenced vending, but due to lack of business, they
are forced to close down.
Moreover, as number of COVID-19 cases has increased in
many states and cities, lockdown has been imposed in several
locations by the administration, he said.
He urged the Centre to provide grants to street
vendors through direct cash transfer. The government is
providing free foodgrains to people, it should provide some
grants to street vendors also to help them overcome the
economic crisis, he said.
Government has also offered cash backs worth Rs 1,200
for a year to promote digital transactions. The hawkers body
urged the government to reduce the number of digital
transactions and their value given the current situation. PTI
BSM
RG RG