Exclusive: SIDBI earmarks Rs 200 cr for MSME-focused Shwas, Arog schemes; sanctioned Rs 90 crore loans

SIDBI had final yr launched the same scheme known as SAFE for all MSMEs engaged within the manufacturing of hand sanitizers, masks, bodysuits, ventilators, testing labs, and different merchandise.

Credit score and Finance for MSMEs: Small Industries Improvement Financial institution of India (SIDBI) — the principal monetary establishment specializing in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) — has earmarked Rs 200 crore for its newly launched Shwas and Arog schemes for MSMEs manufacturing Covid-related items, a senior official at SIDBI advised Monetary Categorical On-line. Whereas Shwas caters to MSMEs manufacturing oxygen cylinders, oxy-generators, oxygen concentrators, liquid oxygen or offering providers in transportation, storage, refilling to provide of this stuff, Arog focuses on enabling credit score for MSMEs in manufacturing of merchandise or offering providers that are instantly associated to combating Covid together with pulse oximeters, permitted medication resembling (Remdesivir, Fabiflu, Dexamethasone, Azithromycin, and so forth), ventilators, PPE kits, and so forth.

“We’ve sanctioned purposes involving Rs 90 crore mortgage quantity to this point and one other set of purposes price Rs 83 crore mortgage is pending. As demand evolves we’ll develop the corpus as properly. Presently we’ve got earmarked Rs 200 crore for the 2 schemes. The scheme would proceed until Covid exists and if there’s a third wave forward, the scheme could be revised primarily based on the contours of the pandemic,” the official conscious of the schemes’ particulars at SIDBI added requesting anonymity.

SIDBI had launched the 2 schemes on April 30, 2021, envisaging funding as much as an quantity of Rs 2 crore to an MSME at an rate of interest of 4.50 – 6 per cent every year inside 48 hours after receipt of all of the paperwork and related data. Nevertheless, MSMEs aren’t fairly enthusiastic about such schemes from banks and the federal government. “All these schemes are nice and noble in thought however their execution stays painful. On the finish of the day, it’s only a discount within the price of curiosity. We’re working amid the pandemic and don’t have time to cope with the documentation concerned. It’s too little too late,” Darshan Bhatia, Founding Companion at ICU ventilator maker DVB InvenTek advised Monetary Categorical On-line.

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Bengaluru-based diagnostic take a look at system producer Bhat Biotech India additionally echoed related sentiments. “We had utilized for SIDBI’s Protected scheme however we couldn’t get the credit score regardless of finishing all formalities. Such schemes by banks are good however it’s troublesome to get by way of them. Whilst you spend a lot time, the federal government says one factor and banks say a special factor. Nevertheless, in the end banks are liable for giving funds. They don’t seem to be supportive once you attain out to them for credit score. Regardless of the problem, we’ve got been capable of develop tremendously from Rs 25 crore turnover to Rs 100 crore final monetary yr. Initially, we have been the one two-three firms in India manufacturing viral transport medium (VTM) final yr and we have been capable of provide them on time throughout India,” Dr Shama Bhat, Founder and CMD, Bhat Bitotech India advised Monetary Categorical On-line. VTM are tubes used for assortment, transportation, and preservation of nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal virus samples.

Importantly, SIDBI had final yr launched the same scheme known as SAFE for all MSMEs engaged within the manufacturing of hand sanitizers, masks, bodysuits, ventilators, testing labs, and different merchandise. “The Protected scheme closed on March 31, 2021. Since this yr, the oxygen was in brief provide so Shwas was launched. This yr the requirement is totally different together with medicines as final yr Hydroxychloroquine was in use however this yr, there are Ivermectin, Remdesivir, and so forth. The brand new schemes are tuned to second wave’s requirement,” the official added.