CM distributes loans to street vendors

Imphal, Sep 18 (DIPR)
Chief Minister N Biren Singh distributed loans to a total of 1,269 vendors of different districts to support them in resuming their vending activities which have been affected by the Nationwide lockdown.
Altogether 803 street vendors were benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi - PM SVANidhi and 466 regular licensed vendors were provided assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) - SHISHU.
On the occasion, N Biren Singh said that the Government understands the financial difficulties which the vendors are facing during the pandemic.
The Chief Minister further said that loans would be provided to around 20,000 vendors from different parts of the State.
 Appreciating the efforts and support of the bank officials in providing loans to the street vendors, the Chief Minister appealed to the banks to disburse the loan amounts to the remaining applicants as soon as possible.
Mentioning about the COVID-19 infections in the State, N Biren said that the rising number of positive cases in the State is due to the non- compliance of SOPs issued by the Government. He further stated that the Government will take stringent action against those who defy the protocols under the National Disaster Management Act and urged the people to strictly follow the guidelines and SOPs issued.
During the function, the Chief Minister also distributed awards to officials of Jiribam Municipal Council and Kakching Municipal Council for bagging cleanest city in NorthEast India and best city in citizen feedback awards respectively under  Swachh Survekshan 2020 which was organized by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.
Mentioned may be made that Chief Minister N Biren Singh had already distributed loans to a total of 817 vendors of different districts on August 25, 2020. PM-SVANidhi was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on June 15, 2020, to provide affordable working capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. The scheme is valid until March 2022.
CAF & PD Minister Karam Shyam, Public Health Engineering Minister L Dikho, Agricultural Minister V Hangkhanlian, Forest and Environment Minister Awangbow Newmai and MLAs of different Assembly Constituencies also attended the function.