Tag: MSME Revival

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MSME Startup

COVID-19 Impact: 78% MSMEs and Startups in India Reduced Workforce in Last 8 Months Since Pandemic Broke Out, Says Survey

Startup (Representational Image Only, Photo Credits: NeedPix.com)

New Delhi, October 20: Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in India, as many as 78% MSMEs and startups across the country have reduced workforce in the last 8 months. As per a survey by LocalCircles, only 22 percent startups and MSMEs have the same or increased workforce as compared to the pre-COVID levels. According to reports, India’s startups and MSMEs ecosystem went through a torrid time due to the deadly pandemic and lockdown that was imposed across the country. Revenues and operations were severely impacted for most businesses which led to cost cutting and some even shut down temporarily or permanently. Per CMIE, 6 million Indians had already lost white collar jobs in the March – August period.

To understand the impact of the pandemic on startup and MSME, a survey conducted by LocalCircles received over 7,000 responses from startups, MSMEs and entrepreneurs spread across 104 top business districts of the country. In the survey, startups and MSMEs were asked about how have workforce adjustments taken place in their business during the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, 25 percent said their business has shut down and all workforce has been let go, while 15 percent said their workforce has reduced by 50 percent or more.

A 19 percent said their workforce has reduced by 25-50%, and another 19 percent said their workforce has reduced by up to 25 percent. A 6 percent said their workforce has increased and 16 percent said they have same workforce as pre coronavirus time. This shows that 78 percent MSMEs and startups in India have reduced workforce in the last 8 months since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and only 22 percent startups and MSMEs have the same or increased workforce as compared to the pre-COVID levels.

The Government also took steps to help these small businesses through the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme, but its advantages per feedback from businesses in July this year has been quite limited, the survey said.

The startups and MSMEs in India were asked about how employment of women has been in their business 8 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, 7 percent said women in their workforce have been reduced by 50-100 percent, 12 percent said women in their workforce have reduced by 25-50 percent, and 12 percent said women in our workforce have been reduced by up to 25 percent. 46 percent said they still have same number of women in the workforce as pre COVID-19. Not a single business reported increase in the number of women employees during the course of the 8 months of COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that 31 percent MSMEs and startups in India have reduced women workforce in the last 8 months. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among women in India, is one of the lowest in the world and appears to have slid even further during the COVID -19 pandemic.

In the final question, startups and MSMEs were asked looking at the next 6 months as to how do they see employment of women in their business. In response, 50 percent said they don’t plan to hire any women employees while 30 percent said they plan to hire 1-5 women employees. 13 percent said they plan to hire 6-10 women employees and 7 percent were unsure about it.

 

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MSME

MSMEs in India Get Big Relief! Govt Ready to Waive ‘Interest on Interest’ on Loans Up to Rs 2 Crore During Moratorium

Money (Photo Credits: Unsplash)

New Delhi, October 17: In a major relief to thousands of individuals and MSME borrowers in India, the Modi government announced that it is ready to waive ‘interest on interest’ on loan up to Rs 2 crore during moratorium. In an affidavit filed on October 3, the government informed the Supreme Court that it has taken a decision to waive ‘interest on interest’ on loans up to Rs 2 crore during the six-month moratorium period. The affidavit said that the only solution is that the government should bear the burden resulting from waiver of compound interest.

The retail borrowers and small businesses are the ones who have been worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic. After the Centre expressed its willingness to waive off ‘interest on interest’ charges on loans up to Rs 2 crore for six months through August, the benefit will now be extended for loans availed by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), education loans, housing, consumer durables, credit card dues among others.

The categories of loans up to Rs 2 crore include- MSME loans, education loans, housing loans, consumer durable loans, credit card dues, auto loans, and personal loans to professional and consumption loans. The Centre said, “After careful consideration and weighing all possible options, the respondent Union of India has decided to continue the tradition of handholding the small borrowers”.

In the affidavit, the Centre added saying that it is impossible for the banks to bear the burden resulting from waiver of compound interest without passing on the financial impact to the depositors or affecting their net worth adversely, which would not be in larger public interest. “The government, therefore, has decided that the relief on waiver of compound interest during the six-month moratorium period shall be limited to the most vulnerable category of borrowers”, the affidavit said.

According to a report by IANS, after the recommendations of an expert committee, the Centre has altered its stand. Earlier, the RBI and Centre had argued against waiver of interest on interest, as it would be against the interests of other stakeholders, especially depositors, and also unfair to those who have paid their dues.

Background:

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, RS Reddy and MR Shah had requested the Centre to have again consider its decision in the backdrop of financial hardship faced by many amid the coronavirus pandemic. Although, the top court had agreed to not waive interest altogether. The Centre said that the top Court would be satisfied that the government bearing this burden would naturally have an impact on several other pressing commitments being faced by the nation, including meeting direct costs association with the pandemic management.

The Centre also cited the example of waiving interest on interest for banks. “In case of SBI alone, waiver of six months’ interest would completely wipe out over half of the bank’s net worth which has accumulated over nearly 65 years of its existence”, the affidavit read. The Supreme Court will take up the matter on October 5 for further hearing. A clutch of petitions was filed in the top court seeking waiver of interest on interest on the deferred EMIs during the moratorium.

 

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MSME

MSME Sector to Grow and Contribute to Job Creation With the Help of Structural Reforms Taken by Modi Govt, Says Finance Ministry Report

Business in India | Representational Image Only (Photo Credits: Pexels)

New Delhi, October 6: The Finance Ministry on Monday said that the major structural reforms launched by the Modi government in agriculture markets, labour laws provide unparalleled opportunity for the MSME sector to grow and prosper. These reforms will in turn contribute to job creation in the primary and secondary sectors. A report by the Finance Ministry stated that the historic labour reforms will benefit MSMEs to increase employment, enhance labour productivity and thereby wages in MSMEs.

According to a report by PTI, the Finance Ministry said that important structural reforms that have been taken by the government to ease the risks posed by COVID-19 pandemic will strengthen India’s economic fundamentals and ensure long-term sustained growth. “The enabling policy environment and initiatives taken by all stakeholders to seize the available opportunities will actualise the growth potential of the Indian economy,” the monthly economic report prepared by the Economic Affairs Department of the Finance Ministry said.

The report further said that the sustained spread of the virus poses a downside risk to short-term and medium-term growth rate, adding that the government has strategically undertaken various important structural reforms, encompassing various sectors, to combat these risks. Meanwhile, the implementation of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ package and unlocking of the economy have ensured that economic recovery in India has gained momentum.

The PTI report adds that as on September 25, India’s foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 542.02 billion, equivalent to more than 13 months of imports. India”s probable growth path is visible in this assessment.

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MSME

MSME Revival: Nitin Gadkari Lists Steps Taken to Re-Boost Sector Hit by COVID-19 Pandemic

Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Photo Credit: PIB)
Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Photo Credit: PIB)

New Delhi, September 17: With the country’s micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector badly affected due to COVID-19 pandemic, Union Minister of MSME Nitin Gadkari stated that the government had implemented various schemes and programmes for growth and development of the sector under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Among the major schemes to revive the ailing MSME sector include Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), Interest Subvention Scheme for Incremental Credit to MSMEs, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS).

Under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Union Ministry had made arrangements for:

a) Rs 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for MSMEs.

b) Rs 3 lakh crores Collateral free Automatic Loans for business, including MSMEs.

c) Rs. 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds.

d) Newly revised criteria for the classification of MSMEs.

e) New Registration of MSMEs through ‘Udyam Registration’ for Ease of Doing Business.

e) No global tenders for procurement up to Rs. 200 crores, this will help MSME.

Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched an online Portal ‘Champions’ on June 1, 2020, aiming to cover aspects of e-governance including grievance redressal and handholding of MSMEs. Through the portal, total 18,723 grievances have been redressed up to September 9, 2020, said Gadkari in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.