Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said efforts are being made to provide an online delivery platform to street food vendors

Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said efforts are being made to provide an online delivery platform to street food vendors on the lines of big restaurants.

After a virtual interaction with beneficiaries of the PM Street Vendors' Aatmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme from Madhya Pradesh, Modi praised the state government for ensuring the scheme's benefits to over lakh people and providing identity cards to over 4.5 lakh people (scheme beneficiaries) in just two months.

Narendra ModiThe Union government had launched the PM SVANidhi scheme on June 1 to help poor street vendors impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic resume livelihood activities.

"I congratulate those who are moving ahead with the SVANidhi Yojna. It is a big thing to provide benefits of the scheme to over one lakh street vendors and providing identity cards to over 4.5 lakh such people. Other states must take inspiration from Madhya Pradesh," Modi said.

After his interaction with the street vendors, Modi in a televised address said, "A scheme has been prepared to provide an online platform to street food vendors by using technology. This means, the street food vendors will be able to make online delivery like big restaurants. Efforts are being made to provide this kind of facility."
Narendra Modi

He told the street vendors that if they come forward, the government will take this effort further.

The prime minister also urged the street vendors to adopt the digital payment system on a large scale.

"The use of digital payment has increased during the past three-four years. Its importance was realised during the corona period. Now customers avoid making payment in cash and pay directly through mobile phone," he said.

Appealing street vendors to come forward to adopt the digital system, Modi said, "A new beginning has been made by the banks and digital payment system providers."

Narendra ModiModi told the street vendors that representatives of banks and such organisations will reach out to them, provide the QR code and inform them about its use.

"I appeal to them (street vendors) to use digital payment more and present an example before the world," he said.

He said the government will make efforts to ensure that street vendors in all big cities of the state get benefit of the PM SVANidhi scheme.