India's first loan mela for informal sector under Safaimitra Campaign organised

Ludhiana: Under the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on November 19, 2020, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation organised India’s first Loan Mela at Indoor Stadium on Pakhowal Road, here today. 

    It was inaugurated by Mayor Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu and MC Commissioner Mr Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal. Other signatories and officers along with representatives of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, NSKFDC and their Channel Partners, DICCI also participated in this loan mela. More than 20 exhibitors participated from all across India.

    ‘Safaimitra’ refers to informal/formal sanitation workers who are involved in cleaning of sewer and septic tanks and related tasks. The Challenge is aimed at preventing Safaimitra from ‘hazardous cleaning’ of sewers/septic tanks through promotion of mechanised cleaning.  

    Mayor Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu informed that the National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is providing loans to Safaimitras on the recommendation of the Municipal Corporation. With the financial assistance in terms of soft loan, ‘Safaimitras’ can buy equipment/machines for mechanised cleaning of septic tanks/sewers in place of manual cleaning - leading to a dignified and safe life. The Municipal Corporation has mobilised informal workers and loan process initiated for workers under the scheme.

    Mr Sandhu said that hundreds of sanitation workers participated in today’s event and hopefully, they would get benefitted from it.

    MC Councillor Mr Dilraj Singh, MC Joint Commissioner Mrs Swati Tiwana were also present on the occasion.