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Paper short abstract:

This paper studies the evolution, implementation and impact of Pradhan Mantri Svanidhi Yojna, as an outcome of solidarity at different levels. Based on a study conducted in three cities and a case study of NASVI, the paper identifies three levels of solidarity based action involved in the process

Paper long abstract:

The Covid-19 pandemic evidently had massive repercussions for informal street vendors across the world including India. The civil society has played a remarkable role in the entire relief process targeting the poor especially urban poor, street vendors and migrants. It was in such a context that the Government of India, upon advocacy from the National Association of Street Vendors in India [NASVI] started the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s SvaNidhi Yojna [PMSY] for providing easy and collateral free loan to street vendors. This paper studies the evolution, implementation and impact of PMSY, as an outcome of solidarity at different levels. The key questions that the paper reflects upon is ‘what worked in terms of the genesis and implementation of the PMSY’. The paper is based on the findings from a study conducted in three cities in the state of Bihar in India and a case study of the National Association for Street Vendors in India [NASVI]. On the whole 1088 street vendors were surveyed including 793 male and 295 female street vendors selected randomly. Street vendors’ survey, ethnographic interviews and NASVI’s case study are utilized together to analyse how PMSY evolved, got operationalized and contributed to the recovery and resilience among street vendors in the aftermath of Covid-19. The effect of PMSY was found to be limited but effective with majority of street vendors reporting some gain from the scheme. This clearly espoused for social transfers as an important means of building community resilience. What worked in terms of PMSY was solidarity based actions that facilitated the entire process spanning the formulation to its implementation at the grass root level. The paper identifies three levels of solidarity based action that were involved in the process behind PMSY; First, between NASVI and the Government. of India, second, between NASVI, local administration and street vendors and third, between street vendors themselves. NASVI and its affiliates were among those Civil Society Organizations that mobilized support for street vendor workers after the pandemic. Taken together these processes unveil potential role that solidarity can play in institutionalizing the rights of the poor, promoting their bargaining strength and enhancing their collective capabilities. They exemplify that solidarity between the state, civil society and community can manifest into interventions that can work in low income context. This is despite the systemic barriers that constraint the interventions such as PMSY, from reaching its potential.