Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs and remained unemployed. Gafar was one who lost his livelihood. Deeply disturbed by his unemployment situation, Gafar discussed the matter at the gram panchayat, but he did not get any guidance.
During a meeting on Citizen Information and Support Centre (CISC), an initiative conducted under a CSR-supported project implemented by S M Sehgal Foundation, in his village in Haryana, which is 10 km from Nuh district headquarters, Gafar learned about the toll-free number for assistance pertaining to government services. Gafar called CISC, explained his predicament to the facilitator, and requested information related to employment. The facilitator informed him about Prime Minister’s Mudra loan being implemented by the government, which provides loans up to INR 10 lakh for non-corporate, non farm, small and micro enterprises. The CISC facilitator explained the entire process of filling out the application form. However, Gafar’s filled-out loan application was not sanctioned.
Gafar again called CISC. This time he was advised to meet the lead district manager (LDM) about this matter. Gafar met the LDM and explained that he intended to set up a small cloth shop with the Prime Minister’s Mudra loan. Subsequently, on 20 October 2021, Gafar’s INR 80,000 loan was sanctioned, and he began his enterprise. Currently he earns about INR 3,000 a month, with which he is able to manage his living expenses.
(Authors: Saurav Sriwastav and Debika Goswami)
Saurav is project associate, Nuh and Debika is senior program lead, Local Participation and Sustainability, S M Sehgal Foundation)
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