In interaction with PM Modi, Manali woman shares how small Mudra Yojana loan changed her life

MANDI: As the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) marked a decade of empowering grassroots entrepreneurship, a humble woman from the serene town of Manali in Himachal Pradesh became the face of resilience and transformation.

In an emotional interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, she shared how a small loan sowed the seeds of a flourishing business, turning her life around.
Clad in traditional Himachali attire and brimming with confidence, she stood before the Prime Minister — not just as a beneficiary, but as a symbol of the programme’s impact.

“I used to sell vegetables in the local market,” she began, her voice steady. “It was a hand-to-mouth existence. But in 2015-16, I took a Mudra loan of Rs 2.5 lakh. It changed everything.”
She narrated how she repaid the first loan within two and a half years, and with growing credibility, availed further loans of Rs 5 lakh, then 10 lakh and eventually 15 lakh. Each loan was not just capital — it was a vote of confidence.

Her vegetable stall turned into a full-fledged ration and provision store, serving hundreds of families in and around Manali. Today, she earns an annual income between Rs 10 and 15 lakh, a figure she once thought belonged only in dreams.

This is new India, says PM Modi

Deeply moved, PM Modi smiled and applauded her journey. “This is the power of belief and self-reliance. This is new India,” he said.

He urged her to invite the bank officials who sanctioned her loans, saying, “Show them what their faith helped build. Let them know they made the right choice.”

He emphasised how stories like hers are the true report cards of government schemes — not in numbers, but in changed lives and newfound dignity.

Empowering the spirit of small entrepreneurs

During the interaction, PM Modi recalled the vision behind the PMMY. “We wanted to give strength to those who had no collateral but had plenty of courage,” he said. “Your success shows what happens when the government stands behind its people.”

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, who was also present, echoed the sentiment, calling her journey “a beacon of hope” for aspiring entrepreneurs in remote parts of the country.

Before concluding, the woman from Manali shared how she now mentors other women in her village, encouraging them to start small businesses. “Just like I got help when I needed it the most, I now help others. That’s my way of giving back,” she said as the audience erupted in applause.

Munish Sood