“During the Congress era, 84 paise of every rupee sent by the government was siphoned off by middlemen:” Sarbananda Sonowal

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)  Sarbananda Sonowal said Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has proved through the successful implementation of the PM SVANidhi scheme that he will never let down the poor.

Sonowal, who is the Member of Parliament from Dibrugarh LSC, attended a public program on the Prime Minister’s Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme at the Auniati Satra branch in Mankota Road, Dibrugarh. The event was organized jointly by the Dibrugarh District administration and Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC). During the program, the Union Minister interacted with several beneficiaries of the scheme.
“The primary goal of the PM SVANidhi scheme is self-reliance. Through this, an individual can support their family with dignity. Prime Minister  Narendra Modi envisioned this strength and created the scheme to empower the poor and marginalised financially,”  Sonowal said in his address.

Recalling the hardships faced during the COVID-19 pandemic,  Sarbananda Sonowal said,“When restrictions crippled small businesses and street vendors, Prime Minister Modi launched this scheme to provide relief. Under it, banks were instructed to extend loans to vendors in three phases — starting with ₹10,000, followed by ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 for those who repaid on time. Additionally, successful borrowers were given a 7% interest subsidy.”

Sonowal added that the design of the repayment mechanism helped many small traders succeed.

Taking aim at the Congress, Sonowal said the party failed to deliver on welfare during its 55 years in power. “Shri Rajiv Gandhi himself admitted that out of every one rupee sent by the government, 84 paise was siphoned off by middlemen. But Prime Minister Modi has ensured that every rupee reaches the poor. His policies are driven by the core values of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,’” the Union Minister said.

Later in the day, Shri Sonowal inaugurated a Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra at Milan Nagar in Dibrugarh, aimed at providing affordable generic medicines to the public.

Several dignitaries were present at the event, including Assam Cabinet Minister and Dibrugarh MLA Shri Prasanta Phukan, Khumtai MLA Shri Chakradhar Gogoi, Duliajan MLA Shri Terash Gowala, Lahowal MLA Shri Binod Hazarika, Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC), Deputy Mayor, Shri Ujjal Phukan, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Bikram Kairi, Dibrugarh Municipal Commissioner (DMC) Shri Joy Vikas, Dibrugarh Development Authority (DDA), Chairman, Shri Asim Hazarika, Zila Parishad, Chairperson, Pushpanjali Sonowal, and Chief Executive Member of the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC), Shri Tonkeshwar Sonowal, along with other officials, dignitaries and beneficiaries.