Archana Sharma, who has started her small business during lockdown, was overjoyed on Wednesday as she had a chance to speak to none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The PM who was speaking to street vendors who received much-needed help under PM Swanidhi Yojana amid corona times also spoke to Archana who is among the beneficiaries.
Archana who runs a Aalu Chaat stall in the city, spoke to the Prime Minister on video chat on range of issues including her business, family issues and financial status. Archana’s husband used to sell vegetable till recently and fell ill after the covid-19 spread in the city. As the man was the only breadwinner for the family, Archana and her kids had no idea what to do. In such a situation, she got help from PM Swanidhi Yojana and after borrowing Rs 10,000 under the street vendors’ loan scheme, Archana started a aalu chaat stall and things came back to normalcy.
Administration had made special arrangements so that locals could listened to the virtual event of the Prime Minister.
A native of Indira Nagar, Archana had a chat with the PM on personal life issues and also the business she set up recently. She told the PM that her husband Rajendra Sharma used to sell vegetable but the Covid-19 induced lockdown halted the trade and her husband also fell ill with a stomach ailment.
After somehow passing through the lockdown period, Archana after the unlock was implemented, received loan under PM Swanidhi Yojana and established her business and now earns upto Rs 500 per day.
Her daughter Akanksha told the PM that she engages in painting and wishes to become a police officer. Archana’s husband, Rajendra told the Prime Minister that he is suffering from TB and is getting treatment under Ayushman yojana.
“I am feeling extremely proud to speak to the PM and it's like a dream come true for me”, said the woman.