PM SVANidhi scheme: A thousand hurdles for a Rs 10K loan to street vendors

Implementation of the PM SVANidhi scheme, meant to help street vendors, has been erratic with banks

Several months since the government announced the launch of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme, street vendors continue to face various hurdles when it comes to its implementation.

The scheme envisages granting collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10,000 to street vendors across the country, with minimum documentation, in a bid to relieve them and their businesses from lockdown-induced stress.

It’s been a bumpy road. Since the scheme was launched, street vendors, with the help of the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), have been putting out fires as and when they arise.

“Initially, the problem was with