Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 30 August highlighted that women constitute approximately 46 per cent of all beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi Yojana, translating to nearly 35 lakh women across India using the scheme to scale up their street-vending businesses. Speaking during the 137th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi called this a 'living example' of women's empowerment — one he argued does not receive the public attention it deserves.

What PM Modi Said

'From morning till evening, lakhs of women across the streets of our cities and towns are engaged in their work. Some sell vegetables or fruits, others run tea stalls, while some sell flowers, earthen lamps, and worship materials. Often, a mere lack of capital prevents their businesses from growing further,' Modi said during the broadcast.

He added that the PM SVANidhi scheme was bridging precisely that gap — providing working capital access to women vendors who would otherwise be locked out of formal credit channels.

Stories From the Ground

Modi cited two beneficiaries to illustrate the scheme's reach. Babita Sharma from Ghaziabad previously ran a modest roadside stall selling flowers, earthen lamps, incense sticks, and coconuts. After receiving financial assistance under PM SVANidhi, she expanded her stock, grew her customer base, and eventually converted her stall into a proper shop.

The second example was T.S. Ningamma from Bengaluru, who along with her husband operated a small idli, dosa, and sambar venture. With support from the scheme, Ningamma upgraded her cart, began bulk-purchasing supplies, diversified her menu, and improved her family's income — enabling better education for her three children, Modi noted.

The Wider Economic Argument

'When a woman's business grows, the future of her entire family advances along with it. Children receive a better education, household needs are met, and the woman's self-confidence is strengthened,' the Prime Minister said, framing street-vending support as a multiplier for household welfare rather than a narrow subsidy.

This comes amid a broader government push to formalise India's vast informal economy. The PM SVANidhi scheme, launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, was originally designed to rehabilitate urban street vendors whose livelihoods were disrupted by lockdowns. It has since evolved into a longer-term micro-credit vehicle, with successive loan tranches available to vendors who repay on time.

Significance and What Comes Next

The 46 per cent female beneficiary share is notable given that street vending in India has historically skewed male in official data. Critics have pointed out that access alone does not guarantee sustained income growth, and that infrastructure — cold storage, designated vending zones, digital payment adoption — remains uneven across cities.

Modi extended his 'best wishes for a bright future' to all women involved in street vending, signalling continued political attention to the scheme. With urban local body elections due in several states, the government's emphasis on visible, grassroots welfare delivery is likely to intensify in the months ahead.