GUWAHATI, July 8 - Even though a large section of Assamese people earn their livelihood by vending, Assam is yet to get enlisted among the notified States and Union Territories for Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor�s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) as it has not fulfilled the norms.
The scheme was launched in June this year with the objective to facilitate a street vendor with a working capital loan up to Rs 10,000, incentivise regular repayment and reward digital transactions.
It is needless to mention here that during the lockdown, street vendors of Assam have been facing acute financial hardships. Initially, they availed free food and other help from some NGOs, but during the ongoing lockdown, most of them are struggling due to starvation.
Naren Rajbongshi, president of the Street Vendors� Association of Assam, said that the State has around four lakh street vendors and, among them, around 45,000 operate in Guwahati alone.
The guidelines of the PM SVANidhi, available on the website of Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), state that scheme is available for beneficiaries belonging to only those States or Union Territories which have notified Rules and Scheme under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. However, beneficiaries from Meghalaya, which has its own State Street Vendors Act may participate.
According to an official source, Assam has not been enlisted for the scheme because the State Government is yet to notify a scheme for the street vendors.
The source said that in Assam the officials concerned have already formulated a draft of the scheme and for a long time, it has been under consideration of the State Government. Notably, the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 made it mandatory for every State to frame a scheme for their local street vendors.
�The Rs 10,000 loan will be a good stimulus for us because without financial help it is not possible for a large section to resume their business of vending. But now we are uncertain whether we will be able to avail the benefit or not,� Rajbongshi said.
On the website, MOHUA also requested all the street vendors to make sure that their mobile phones are linked to their Aadhaar numbers.
�This will be required for your e-KYC or Aadhaar validation during the online application process. It will also help you to get a letter of recommendation from Urban Local Body if required and avail future benefits under the Government welfare schemes,� the MOHUA said on its website.
Rajbongshi, however, pointed out that even if Assam is able to come under the purview of the scheme, still, a large section of street vendors will be deprived of availing the benefit as most of them are yet to get an Aadhaar card.
