On the Street
Following limitations encountered online, we shifted focus to street level interactions. Conversations with vendors revealed varied responses, ranging from complete unawareness of the scheme to apprehension rooted in past experiences with government initiatives and fear of being scammed. Very few vendors reported attempting to apply independently. A visit to a nearby bank, however, presented a contrasting reality, with nearly forty to fifty active PM SVANidhi files. This contradiction suggested that while awareness among vendors was low, the scheme was actively being used through alternative, mediated pathways.
