Minister Ashok Singhal attends Zonal Conference on PM SVANidhi Scheme empowering North East Street Vendors
The North-Eastern Zonal Conference for Monitoring & Review of the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme took place today at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati. The conference, held under the esteemed chairmanship of Bhagwat Karad, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India, as well as the PM SVANidhi and Department of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of Assam. It was also attended by senior government officials of all North-Eastern States.
The event was graced by Ashok Singhal, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of Assam, who expressed his delight in attending the conference. He lauded the scheme as a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has proven to be a game-changer for street vendors across India, particularly in the North East region. The PM SVANidhi Scheme has provided street vendors with collateral-free micro credit, empowering them to address their working capital needs and contribute to their livelihoods.
Distinguished attendees included Rahul Kapoor, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India; Pankaj Sharma, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Government of India; Vipin Pal Singh, Director, PM SVANidhi, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India; Arvind Menon, National Secretary and National In-charge of Schemes & Projects; Kavitha Padmanabhan, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of Assam; and Pawar Narsing Sambhaji, IAS, Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Assam. The conference witnessed the active participation of senior officials from the Government of India, Government of Assam and other North-eastern states as well as senior representatives from the banking sector.
The collaborative effort showcased the commitment of various stakeholders in bolstering the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme. With the scheme’s focused approach on uplifting street vendors by offering them the necessary financial support, the conference marked a significant step towards driving socio-economic growth and ensuring sustainable livelihoods in the North East region.
The event not only underscored the progress made under the PM SVANidhi Scheme but also highlighted the continued dedication of officials and authorities towards the welfare of street vendors. The conference concluded on a promising note, reaffirming the joint efforts to empower street vendors and contribute to the larger goal of building an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.