MSMEs have emerged as the backbone of our economy and no one can deny this. This sector contributes heavily to the GDP and has been actively providing livelihood to many. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this backbone has been hurt quite badly. Considering the current misery of the MSMEs, the government came into action and introduced new schemes and policies that could help these businesses stay afloat.
One such Scheme is ECLGS which stands for Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Schemes which has been introduced by the government to ensure the reinforcement of the financial structure of the micro, small, and medium enterprises across the nation.
What Exactly Is ECLGS?
On the 15th of May,2020, our ministry of finance announced a scheme with a vision to help the MSMEs of India get back on their feet. This scheme was a part of the Rs 20 lakh crore package that was brought forward and executed by our finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to repair the damage that has been done to this sector in the light of COVID-19.
Are You Eligible?
To avail the said scheme, a Business should have total outstanding credit adding up to Rs.25 crore as of 29th February 2020. Also, the borrower should be able to prove that their business has produced a turnover of Rs 100 crore for the financial year 2019-2020.
- To reap the benefits of the said scheme, a business must be recognized as a trust, partnership, proprietorship, registered company, or limited liability partnership.
- The Scheme will be available only for existing customers on the books of the MLI.
- For a seamless execution, enterprises are supposed to be ready with all the GST registration paperwork as well as other business-related documents. However, businesses that do not require GST registration, can also go forward applying for the same.
What About The Rate Of Interest?
Based on the body that is providing you the loan, the rate of interest would vary. We have mentioned below a bifurcation of the various rates of interests at which the loan will be sanctioned to the eligible MSMEs and enterprises.
- Non-Bank Financial Company: NBFCs have decided to give out loans under ECLGS scheme at an interest rate of 14% per annum and are very strict about not passing the threshold.
- Banks And Financial Institutions: The interest rate under the scheme is capped at 9.25% per annum for banks and financial institutions.
- MLI (multilateral Institutions): A sigh of relief for the existing customers of MLIs as no fee is to be charged to them.
Don’t Miss Out On These Details
- All the businesses/borrowers that are thinking to apply for loans under the respective scheme must know that there is a 1-year moratorium on the principal amount that you will have to repay.
- If you don’t repay the entire principal amount within the moratorium period, the rest of the amount will have to be repaid in the overall tenure of 3 years dividing it into 36 monthly installments.
- Please be wary of the fact that the borrower will have to open a separate account for this loan altogether. The borrower will not be allowed to use any account that has been opened and already used to serve other purposes.
This scheme has the right potential to help out the MSME sector put an end to their misery and regain financial stability. All in all, the government has taken the necessary step to fill the gaps, now it’s up to the MSMEs if they want to grab the opportunity to strengthen and solidify their position in the market.