Prime Minister launched PM Swanidhi Credit Card from Thiruvananthapuram (Photo- ANI)
Jagran News Network, New Delhi. After Swanidhi scheme which provides easy bank loans to street vendors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now launched PM Swanidhi Credit Card for them from Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. This card will directly benefit lakhs of people doing small roadside business.
The Prime Minister said that earlier this facility was available only to the rich, but now under the PM Swanidhi Yojana, street vendors will also have credit cards. Along with launching the card, he also distributed loans under PM Swanidhi Yojana to one lakh beneficiaries.
Launched as part of efforts to strengthen urban livelihoods, PM Swanidhi Credit Card marks the beginning of the next phase of financial inclusivity. This card will be linked to UPI and through it interest free transactions of Rs 10 to 30 thousand can be done for a fixed period. There will be no cash withdrawal facility in this. Therefore, it will promote digital transactions.
Addressing a gathering after launching the credit card and several other projects, the Prime Minister said that the launch of PM Swanidhi Credit Card is an important step towards financial inclusion and empowerment of street vendors, handcart owners and footpath sellers.
He said that during the programme, credit cards have been given to 10,000 vendors from Kerala and more than 600 from Thiruvananthapuram. The Prime Minister said that earlier the condition of those selling goods on the roads and streets was very bad. To buy goods, he had to borrow even a few hundred rupees at a very high interest rate. To overcome this old problem, PM Swanidhi Yojana was started.
Those who do not have any guarantee, the government itself is becoming their guarantor - PM. Lakhs of street vendors across the country have already benefited from this scheme. He has got a loan from the bank for the first time in his life. The central government has done a great job in connecting people with banking services. Now poor, SC, ST, OBC, women and fishermen all are getting bank loans easily.
For those who do not have any guarantee, the government itself is becoming their guarantor. Today the entire country is united in its efforts to create a developed India and the role of cities is very important in this journey. In this sequence, the Prime Minister also mentioned various schemes being run by his government for the poor and the deprived.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub and a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Center at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology here.
He said, “The NDA government is also investing heavily in connectivity, science and innovation and healthcare. The inauguration of the CSIR Innovation Hub in Kerala and the start of the Radio Surgery Center in the Medical College will help Kerala become a hub of science, innovation and healthcare.
Three Amrit Bharat trains flagged off
Prime Minister Modi also flagged off four new trains on Friday, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train. The new Amrit Bharat trains will run between Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli.
The passenger train will run between Thrissur and Guruvayur. The introduction of these trains will significantly increase long distance and regional connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The Prime Minister said, "Today, the efforts of the Central Government for the development of Kerala have gained new momentum. Rail connectivity has become stronger in Kerala. An initiative has been started to make Thiruvananthapuram a big startup hub of the country.
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