More than 12 crore tribals benefitted from multiple govt schemes: Sarbananda Sonowal

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that more than 12 crores tribals benefitted from the multiple schemes launched by BJP led government.

Sonowal joined the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ celebrations with a visit to a tribal village of Barbakra at Urang Basti near Rani today. The Union Minister paid floral tributes to Birsa Munda, the tribal icon whose birth anniversary is celebrated as the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, at the village. Sonowal also spoke on the occasion and interacted with the villagers.

Sonowal said, “Today is a momentous day for all of India as we celebrate the rich heritage and immense contribution of tribal population towards the cause of nation building. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, more than 12 crore Adivasi people of India were benefitted from multiple government welfare schemes since 2014. As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji launched another Vikshit Bharat Sankalp Yatra today, this will make people aware about the various welfare schemes designed to cater their long awaited needs and demands. With this, people will be made aware about create awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water, etc. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have been able to build a new India where everyone, irrespective of their social, political, cultural or economic background, has an opportunity to become nation builders with active contributions in their chosen field during this Amrit Kaal. This will enable an ecosystem that is self sustaining and will propel us to achieve the goal of becoming an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047, a vision of PM Narendra Modi ji. I am also confident that the rich heritage of Advasi culture has an important role to play towards building a strong character of our society, our polity, our identity as a nation, characterised by dynamic multi cultural existence with a unified sense of nationhood.”

Sonowal hosted an interactive session with the women street vendors of Assam at his residence here. More than 75 women vendors, from tea stall owners to Ladoo & Pitha makers to Pan shop owners, had a fruitful interaction with the Union Minister and shared their experience and benefits derived out of the loan availed under the PM SVANidhi scheme.
Sonowal, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to interact with you all today, who has availed loans under the PM SVANidhi scheme to establish and consolidate your business. Our dynamic Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is very keen to understand the ground impact of all the schemes that the government has been rolling out. This scheme, which is aimed at rejuvenating the street size businesses, has been helpful to people to re-establish their business post pandemic years. It has also helped them expand the scope of their business and contribute meaningfully to realise the ultimate goal for all of us, to make India become Atmanirbhar by 2047 - a vision of PM Narendra Modiji. With Jan Bhagidari as the motto, we must strive towards the best during this Amrit Kaal to realise this beautiful vision of Modi ji for our country. Given your encouraging response to this scheme, I am confident that we are going in the right direction under Modi ji’s visionary leadership. I am also happy to know that the vendors of Assam has achieved a rate of 84% for repaying the loan. This will not only pave the way for business opportunities to grow and prosper but also create a positive culture of financial discipline.”

The PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) is a special micro credit facility for street vendors launched by PM Narendra Modi to provide affordable loan to street vendors, with an aim to benefit over 50 lakh street vendors. With an working capital of up to ?10,000/- to resume work post COVID lockdown, the scheme provides incentives to vendors with timely repayment by providing 7% interest rate subsidy, eligibility for higher loan in next cycle, incentivising digital transactions with cash back (up to ?1200 cash for conducting digital transactions in a year), provision for free QR code and handholding at the vending stall, wider base for lending institutions including Commercial banks, other banks, MFIs, NBFCs, and SHG Banks.