By Bureau Correspondent | Tripura 24.in
AGARTALA | May 31, 2026
AGARTALA: In a significant event blending national civic outreach with localized economic empowerment, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha attended a special screening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 134th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ monthly radio broadcast today. The state-level program was hosted at the Muktadhara Auditorium in Agartala on Sunday morning.
Marking the occasion, the Chief Minister spearheaded a ceremonial distribution camp directly inside the auditorium complex, handing over financial credit packages and micro-loans to dozens of urban street vendors under the flagship PM SVANidhi (Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) scheme.
The high-profile event was graced by Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, alongside senior administrative officials, urban development directors, banking executives, and hundreds of local trade beneficiaries.
Empowering Grassroots Urban Entrepreneurs
The integration of the Mann Ki Baat broadcast with the PM SVANidhi distribution drive highlights the state administration’s strategy to turn national developmental milestones into real, tangible benefits for the working-class population.
Key Structural Highlights of the Distribution Event:
- Collateral-Free Capital Flow: Beneficiaries received working capital loans of ₹10,000, ₹20,000, or ₹50,000 (based on their repayment cycles) directly into their linked bank accounts, helping them scale up their micro-businesses without any property collateral obstacles.
- Digital Integration Incentives: Urban street vendors were equipped with official digital payment QR codes, enabling them to earn cashback rewards and establish clean financial records to qualify for higher credit limits in the future.
- Comprehensive Social Security: The Chief Minister directed urban coordinators to ensure that all registered PM SVANidhi beneficiaries are automatically linked to broader welfare safety nets, including the Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Suraksha Bima Yojana.
“We Are Turning Street Vendors Into Self-Reliant Business Owners”: CM Dr. Manik Saha
Addressing the gathering post-broadcast, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha emphasized that the PM SVANidhi scheme has successfully broken the monopoly of informal moneylenders who used to exploit small-scale traders with exorbitant interest rates.
”Today, we did not just listen to the inspiring words of our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji; we put his vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) into direct action here at Muktadhara Auditorium. For decades, our small-scale street vendors, vegetable sellers, and roadside tea-stall owners were completely ignored by the formal banking system. They were forced to borrow from local moneylenders at high rates, trap themselves in endless debt, and struggle daily just to keep their businesses afloat.
Under the PM SVANidhi scheme, our double-engine government is offering respect, recognition, and low-interest institutional loans to these hardworking individuals. Under the leadership of AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, Agartala has emerged as one of the top-performing urban bodies in executing this project. We are ensuring that every micro-entrepreneur in our capital city gets the financial backing they need to lead a life of absolute dignity and economic stability,” Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha announced to the press.
AMC Mayor Vows to Expand Organized Vending Zones
Speaking at the event, AMC Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder stated that the municipal corporation is actively working on a comprehensive structural plan to build modern, organized vending zones across Agartala. This initiative aims to accommodate growing numbers of self-employed traders without disrupting the regular flow of traffic.
Following the formal addresses, the Chief Minister and the Mayor personally interacted with several vendors, handed over loan sanction letters, and sampled indigenous regional products displayed by self-help groups outside the auditorium lobby.
