Dibrugarh: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and local MP from Dibrugarh, Sarbananda Sonowal, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for empowering small traders through the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme, calling it a landmark initiative in supporting the poor and marginalised.

Addressing a public programme on PM SVANidhi at Auniati Satra branch, Mankota Road, Dibrugarh—jointly organised by the District Administration and the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation—Sonowal interacted with several beneficiaries of the scheme. He highlighted how the initiative enabled street vendors to become self-reliant, especially during the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, vendors are eligible for collateral-free loans in three phases—₹10,000, ₹20,000, and ₹50,000—with a 7% interest subsidy for timely repayment. Sonowal said the mechanism has transformed lives by helping small traders expand their businesses with dignity.

The Union Minister also criticised the Congress, stating that the party failed to ensure welfare delivery during its decades in power. He contrasted this with the Modi government’s direct benefit transfer model, which ensures funds reach the poor without leakages, guided by the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.”

Later, Sonowal inaugurated a Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra at Milan Nagar, Dibrugarh, which will provide affordable quality medicines to citizens.

BI Bureau