Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), January 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted a major milestone in financial inclusion, announcing that street vendors are now being issued credit cards under the PM SVANidhi scheme—an opportunity that was earlier limited to the wealthy.
Addressing a public gathering in Kerala’s capital after flagging off three Amrit Bharat Express trains and inaugurating several developmental projects, PM Modi said, “Previously, only wealthy people had credit cards, but now street vendors also have SVANidhi credit cards.” During the event, around 10,000 vendors from across Kerala, including over 600 from Thiruvananthapuram, received their cards.
The Prime Minister explained that the scheme is aimed at empowering street vendors, cart owners, and hawkers, who previously had to borrow small amounts at high interest rates to sustain their livelihoods. “Millions of street vendors have received a bank loan for the first time in their lives,” he added.
PM Modi also highlighted broader efforts to expand financial access, noting that marginalized groups—including SCs, STs, OBCs, women, and fishermen—are now able to obtain loans without collateral, with the government acting as guarantor where needed.
The Prime Minister underscored the Centre’s urban development initiatives, pointing out that over four crore houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana nationwide, including more than one crore for the urban poor. In Kerala alone, nearly 1.25 lakh urban poor families have received permanent homes.
He further spoke about welfare measures including free medical coverage up to ₹5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat, maternity support via the Matru Vandana Yojana, and tax relief for citizens earning up to ₹12 lakh annually.
PM Modi also emphasized Kerala’s enhanced rail connectivity and efforts to transform Thiruvananthapuram into a major startup hub, alongside initiatives in science, innovation, and healthcare, including the CSIR-NIIST Innovation Hub and a Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated four new trains—including three Amrit Bharat Express services linking Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram, and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli—and a passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
The event, held as Kerala heads into Assembly election mode, saw PM Modi being felicitated, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in attendance.
