The State Urban Livelihood Mission (SULM), Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, successfully organized the PRAISE (Performance Recognition for Access to Financial Inclusion and Street Vendors Empowerment) Awards ceremony, on 23rd October, 2024. This state-level event honoured key stakeholders who have made significant contributions towards the success of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi) scheme, empowering street vendors across Meghalaya.
Dignitaries in attendance include Shri Sanbor Shullai, MLA South Shillong, Shri Satish Kumar Singh, Under Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, Shri Pravin Bakshi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Social Welfare Department, Meghalaya, Shri. P.K. Boro, Director Urban Affairs, State Mission Director DAY-NULM & PMSVANidhi, MSULM, Urban Affairs, Shri E. Kharmalki, IAS (Retd) and former Director Urban Affairs State Mission Director NULM PMSVANidhi, Shri R. Sohkhlet, Joint Director-Technical, Urban Affairs Department among others were present.
Shri. P.K. Boro gave the introductory and welcome speech where he welcomed the dignitaries and thanked the different SHGs from across the state for attending the programme.
A significant highlight of the event was that over 9 street vendors attended the event with their respective spouses as special guests to be part of the auspicious celebration of the work of urban street vendors under PMSVANidhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanbor Shullai said that the State Urban Livelihoods Mission (SULM) award is for best practice under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY NULM), a programme under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to award best practices by women self-help group and micro entrepreneur. He said that the Performance Recognition for Access to Financial Inclusion and Street Vendors Empowerment (PRAISE) Awards under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, have been conceptualised as a platform to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of the stakeholders of PM-SVANidhi which is the State, Urban Local Bodies, banks and other partnerships. It aims to recognise the key stakeholders that are part of the process in making PM-SVANidhi a success. He added that the Award programme is dedicated towards the unwavering commitment of the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Shri Pravin Bakshi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Social Welfare Department, expressed delight on seeing joyful faces of the PRAISE recipients, pointing out the tireless efforts made by the Urban Affairs and state government to support the street vendors and hawkers, despite difficult circumstances. He pointed out that in terms of PM SVANidhi, Meghalaya in spite of the initial challenges and difficulties has performed well and it is the 3rd best, not just in the northeast but in the entire hilly states as well.
Shri Satish Kumar Singh, Under Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India said, in his speech Shri Satish Kumar Singh congratulated all the beneficiaries, the stakeholders for their outstanding contribution and their outstanding achievements stressing that their hard work and dedication has been inspiring. He added that when urban local bodies, government of India, financial institutions work together they can achieve anything with a target of a common good and a common greater good.
Smti Larisa Mawroh, State Mission Manager, SULM Assistant Nodal Officer, Meghalaya Street Vendors informed that Meghalaya has mobilised around 500 self-help groups and two City Livelihood Centers (CLCs) have been established in Mawkhar and one CLC to be set up in Tura. She added that Meghalaya SULM has provided 149 loans for individual enterprises wherein the applications undergo scrutiny. The entrepreneurs are being incubated on opening a business. She added that an SHG grading App, Street Vendors Survey App and bulk SMS service has been developed to reduce the burden of paperwork and increase transmission of information more effectively.
During the event, Shri Pravin Bakshi launched several key initiatives, including the Meghalaya Street Vendors Mobile App, SHG Grading Mobile Application, and the Meghalaya DAY-NULM Website. The dignitaries also unveiled the 10-year report of DAY-NULM and the 4-year state-level report of PM-SVANidhi, which showcased the progress and achievements of these initiatives in the state.
IAINEHSKHEM CLF President Lumlanglin Marbaniang has a heart towards helping the women from financially unstable backgrounds in the urban areas. Narrating her journey, she said after opening a training center and registered with the Industries’ department. Her team visited exhibition sites in different states such as Noida, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai with the support of the government from the Urban Affairs Department. She recalled that having received a support of Rs 15,000 from the Shillong Municipal Board, they were able to buy sewing machines and ran the training centre for tailoring and embroidery.
The SHGs who were awarded are Green Jobs and Sustainability-Iainehskhem SHG, Shillong -Environmental Protection in Recycling of Waste, Community Mobilization & Growth in Institutional Development-Kyrshanlang CLF, Shillong – Recognition for Community Mobilization & Growth in Institutional Development, Food Processing- Nokmechik SHG, Tura – Best in Food Processing, Entrepreneurship-Dabitnalsagittim Community Development Society Self Help Group, Baghmara – Most Entrepreneurial SHG, Service Delivery-Edubridge SHG, Shillong- Best in Service Delivery, Arts-Tengna SHG, Williamnagar – Best in Traditional Arts and Craft, Textiles-Weaver SHG, Resuelpara – Best in Textiles.
The PRAISE Awards were established to recognise excellence in performance and celebrate the contributions of various stakeholders, including ULBs and banks, who have supported the street vendors’ economic empowerment. The awards also highlighted best practices under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM), recognizing women-led SHGs and micro-entrepreneurs who have made strides in urban poverty alleviation and community empowerment.
This Award programme is dedicated towards the unwavering commitment the stakeholders – the Government, the Banking Sector and the Urban Local Bodies provide in ensuring the economic wellbeing of the street vendors. The stakeholders have worked collaboratively to achieve the target of providing working capital.
