Bhubaneswar, 24/12: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today distributed Rs 3,000 in special phase assistance to 1,01,000 street vendors in 114 urban areas of the state. Previously, Rs 30,00 was provided in two phases in March 2020 and June 2021. The Chief Minister also announced that vending zones would be set up in 87 urban areas to facilitate their market. He said Rs 60 crore would be spent on the the scheme.
Addressing street vendors present in various districts of the state on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Covid has affected everyone’s livelihood. “. I want to say that the government is always with you. ‘
The Chief Minister said that this assistance would protect your livelihood. Roadside vendors are an important part of a city’s economy. “Even though there are big malls and shops, there are and will be street vendors,” he said.
He warned them about Covid and said that the fear of Covid was still there. He encouraged ordinary people as well to take part in solving this great task: “One of the things you and other people can do is keep up the pressure … there are going to be some difficult decisions for government”.
Addressing the function, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Shri Pratap Jena, said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is a public figure who understood the minds of the poor. He has always helped everyone in an innovative way. Minister Jena highlighted the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, housing welfare assistance and many welfare schemes in the state.
Chief Minister’s Secretary (5T)Mr. V.K. Pandian officiated the programme.