Port Blair, Dec. 7: The PM SVANidhi scheme has emerged as a savior for street vendors in their most turbulent times. Their business has been adversely affected during the pandemic. Among the worst hit figures a lady street vendor, Arpita Singha Roy, who runs a fast food business, opposite Bharat Textile, Aberdeen bazaar. She along with her husband supports a family a four members. The Fast food business is their only source of income on a daily basis. With all their savings being exhausted during pandemic time, their life had come to a standstill.
She applied for PM SVANidhi loan, when she came to hear about the scheme from one of her neighbors. She says that she had not expected hassle free, zero collateral loan. With a decent amount of Rs 10,000/-, she first paid her home rent, and then repaired her cart, bought groceries for home and ration items to restart her fast food business.
She cannot hold back her emotions, as she reminisces the worries she has endured during the lockdown. She had an uncertain future as savings were almost exhausted during the pandemic related lockdown.
Now, she expresses her gratitude to Administration and PBMC for handholding her to secure formal sector loan for the first time. She has hopes for a better future now.