Port Blair, Dec. 11: PM SVANidhi has proved to be a blessing for small street vendors, whose savings had exhausted and their means of survival had come to a halt during the pandemic period. SmtiVijaya, a lady street vendor involved in breakfast business at Dollygunj, is one among the affected. Tragedy hit her hard when she lost her husband during the COVID period. She has a school going son to take care of. Devastated with the loss of her husband and the only source of livelihood,she recalls that did not have the money to buy ration for home. She used to wait for the van which supplied free food on a daily basis, initiated by the A &N administration.

When she came to learn about the micro credit loan facility from the PBMC office, she applied for the same immediately.

She received the loan of Rs10000, which helped her to buy ration for home and shop, buy gas cylinder for the shop,pay home rent. Now she is all praise for the administration for implementing PMSVANidhi which bought much needed respite for the street vendors like her in their most difficult times.