String of Diwali Melas in Uttar Pradesh to light up lives of lesser fortunate
Lucknow: Yogi government has taken important steps to increase the additional income of street vendors and self-help groups of the state. Under this, like every year, this time also it has been decided to organize a three-day Diwali fair from 9 to 11 November on the occasion of Diwali in all 75 districts of the state, where street vendors and self-help groups will organize the fair at one place. Various types of products will be sold. This three-day fair will be organized under PM Swanidhi. In this regard, necessary guidelines have been issued by the State Urban Livelihood Mission.
SOP issued for the fair
Urban Development Minister AK Sharma said that as per the intention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (CM Yogi), along with making festival related products available to the general public at one place, additional income from street vendors, street vendors and self-help groups will be generated. To increase this, a Diwali fair is being organized this time also. SOP has been issued regarding this. In such a situation, the State Urban Livelihood Mission has issued necessary guidelines by issuing letters to the Nodal Officer of PM Swanidhi, Project Director, City Project Officer and DUDA etc.
In the SOP, all the District Magistrates have been instructed to organize the fair in the open ground, where there is adequate space for food stalls, swings and cultural programs along with parking. Instructions have been given to make adequate arrangements for electricity, water and cleanliness at the fair site. At the same time, before organizing the fair, publicity will be done through mike in the main market and wedding zone of the city. A chief nodal officer will be nominated for the fair at the district level, who will coordinate with the municipal level nodal officer and ensure the proceedings.
Street vendors will be honored in cultural program
To organize the fair on a grand scale, a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, which will prepare the timeline of the fair’s work. A medical camp will also be organized in the fair for street vendors and members of self-help groups along with their families, where medicines will be provided along with medical advice. Various competitions along with cultural programs will also be organized at the venue for the buyers along with the families of the street vendors.
These include painting, slogan, mehndi, rangoli, dance, singing and cooking. During this period, after approving the first, second and third loan applications under PM Swanidhi, stalls of banks will be set up for loan distribution.
One-time settlement scheme to give exemption in surcharge to electricity consumers
On this occasion, stalls of departments will be set up for vendors profiling and linkage with other 8 schemes under Swanidhi to Samridhi. Instructions have been given to honor those who activate street vendors in cultural programs and those who receive maximum cashback with maximum digital transactions.
