SVANidhi Mahotsav _A celebration of Atma Nirbhar Street vendors was today organsied by Srinagar Municipal Corporation at Sheri Kashmir Park ward 2 lal chowk under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahatsov
Mayor Srinagar Mr Junaid Azim Mattu who was the Chief Guest on the occassion said this event SVanSVANidhi Mahatsov cultural events is being celebrated for street vendors of the country and their families.
Mayor on the occassion said the aim of organizing this event is to honor and demonstrating good credit discipline, digital behaviour and good buissness acumen .
Micro credit has transformational power. It cannot be overemphasized. Credit could be a liability as well as transformational. I would request vendors to use the credit package being offered under a PM scheme productively. It’s a credit advance and not a stipend that would be waived off. If used properly, it will increase the credit advance and increase the capacity of the business of vendors said Mayor.
To have the city open in the evening too, pedestrianisation of a few markets like Polo View is underway. We don’t have markets that offer a mixed experience for visitors. We are working on a model market in Wazirbagh, if that succeeds we can have similar markets in other zones too. This market will have uniform signages and hoarding with local architectural outlook.
He said the urban local body was being reoriented. The body was elected after a gap of 10 years. However, in the processes of policy making for Srinagar city to have it as a liberal tourist city, the corporation should be involved and not merely seen as an interface between the public and the department. A lot of good things would happen if the elected representatives were involved in transformational projects.
He also highlighted how the corporation was able to macadamised roads in areas that did not see the basic road connectivity for 60 years, and resulted in a sense of alienation.
Chief Secretary Mr Arun Kumar Mehta who was the Guest of the Honor on the occassion said the certificate issued to vendors may sound like a small act but We are among the top states and UTs to complete the groundwork for the initiative.
The efforts were made in equal measure as for tribals under Forest Rights Act that vendors get their due.
In case anyone is left out, that gap needs to be filled said Mr Mehta .
Srinagar is a beautiful city and can be more beautiful. We can see a change in the Dal lake now because of the fresh initiatives. Even poor people living in and around the Dal lake are happy and prospering. We need to take such initiatives for poor locals as a mission mode. We also need to imagine how Srinagar would look 25 years ahead. We need to focus on transparency too. People need to participate in these initiatives furher streddef Chief Secretary.
We put everything in the public domain and People need to be made aware about the development initiatives undergoing in their areas.
People need to connect with the administration. We wish that J&K heads for a golden future. Also, time in Srinagar should not halt at 9 p.m. People should be able to come out in the evening too and we need to work towards that.
Principal Secretary to Government HUDD, Mr Dheeraj Gupta while addressing the gathering said Street vendor today have certificate of vending from UT Of Jammu and Kashmir for vending with dignity and Right.
Whether it is providing certification of vending or providing loans under PMSVANidhi we have reached to all. Atleast 15000 people have been provided these loans.
He said street vendors who are yet to be registerd shall too be registered in the coming week and also an increased focus has to be given to digital literacy so that our street vendors can avail the facility of using digital payment and be taken on board on a digital platform too
Commissioner SMC Mr Athar Amir Khan in his welcome address said that Street vendors have been an essential part of India’s economic growth story .
He said the loans were provided during loan Melas and the details of beneficiaries who have been enrolled for loan facility under PMDVANidhi scheme to the tune of Rs 10000 in first tranche and after successful repayment furhher installment upto 20000 as second tranche is being provided.
Commissioner SMC further said that Street vendors will also be facilitated the loan upto 50000 Rs.
The total amount through different banks is 5.10 cr and out of which an amount of 4.87 CT has been disbursed where as the street vendors have liquidated an amount of Rs 2.46 Cr sp far.
He also stressed about 8 different yojnas under PM SVANidhi for street vendors including One Nation One Ration Card , PM Suraksha Bima Yojna,Registration under BoCW and others.
Many cultural programs including musical events, skits, were organised during the event.
Besides cultural events the street vendors who were present along with their families had installed their different variety of stalls including food, on the occassion.
People from self help group from UDAC and NLUM who displayed their products on the occasion were also a part of the occassion.
Besides Corporators all senior Municipal Corporation Officers ,Different representative groups of street vendors, Banks and other departments were present on the occassion.