New Delhi: The outbreak of Covid-19 and the lockdown has severely impacted the economy and thrown life out of gear for many including street vendors and hawkers. However, with the help of ‘AtmaNirbhar Nidhi’ a scheme, new street vendors and hawkers can avail a Rs 10,000 loan. ALSO READ | Bread, Cheese Sold Like Hot Cakes During The Lockdown; Check Out What FMCG Firms Sold The Most!

The scheme is available at almost 3.8 lakh common service centres (CSCs) spread across the country, as per the government’s digital and e-governance services arm CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.

What is the scheme?

It is the scheme launched as the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi is fully funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It aims to facilitate working capital loan up to Rs 10,000 for street vendors and hawkers.  It will help to incentivise vendors for regular repayments, and reward digital transactions.

How can street vendors, hawkers benefit?

It will open up new opportunities and formalise street vendors. Besides, it will incentivise the vendors for regular repayments, and reward digital transactions. The centres will help vendors’ enrollment in the scheme.

“Under this programme, urban street vendors will be eligible to avail a working capital loan of up to Rs 10,000 with tenure of one year and repaid in monthly installments,” said Sanjay Kumar, joint secretary under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in a statement.

In fact,  no collateral will be taken by the lending institutions. “All vendors need to do digital transactions. They will get a cashback offer.”