Atma-Nirbhar Bharat- Lets Look at What is inside Rs. 20 Lakh Crore Package!
Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of a ‘Self Reliant India’ in fighting the COVID-19 crisis during his speech on May 12th, 2020.
The Core focus of his speech was “Go Local”, “Be Vocal” and “Make it Global”. He announced a recovery package of Rs. 20 lakh core which approximates 10% of India’s GDP. The package is targeted to cater to various sections including cottage industry, MSMEs, laborers, farmers & middle class.
His vision for a Self-Reliant India will stand on the following five pillars:
Let’s look at how you can benefit from the Rs. 20 lakh Crore package:
The MSME Sector has been selected to receive the lion’s share of help, and rightly so as they need it the most, and we need them the most. Separate classifications for manufacturing and service sector are to be removed, and composite criteria for their definitions were identified as follows –
With these new definitions for MSMEs, there will hopefully be more registrations and a reduced fear among businesses to not qualify within the criteria. MSMEs are going to be the direct benefactors of financing and liquidity provisions, offered in the form of –
Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs – Rs. 20,000 Crores
Stressed MSMEs in need of equity support will receive a net amount of Rs. 20,000 cr as subordinate debt from the Govt. Any functioning MSMEs that are NPA or are stressed will be eligible, and an estimated 2 lakh businesses are expected to benefit. The Govt. will also release a support of Rs. 4000 Cr to CGTMSE, to be provided to banks as partial Credit Guarantee support. The banks will give debts to promoters of MSME, to infuse as equity in the units.
Collateral-Free Automatic Loans for Businesses including MSMEs – Rs. 3,00,000 Crores
There has been a massive shutdown of MSMEs and businesses unable to meet their operational liabilities or raw material costs. Banks and NBFCs are to now provide an Emergency Credit Line to Businesses/MSMEs of up to 20% of the entire outstanding credit as on 29.02.2020. This scheme is to remain available till 31.10.2020, and carry no guarantee fee or fresh collateral. The Government hopes that this scheme will allow approximately 45 lakh units to resume business activity and safeguard jobs. The details of the loan terms are -
Equity Infusion for MSMEs through Fund of Funds – Rs. 50,000 Crores
To address the severe shortage of equity faced by MSMEs, a Fund of Funds with a Corpus of Rs. 10,000 Cr will be set up. The FOF will be operated through a Mother Fund and a few daughter funds, helping to leverage Rs. 50,000 Cr at the daughter fund level. This funding will be for MSMEs with growth potential and viability, and hopes to expand MSME size as well as capacity, encouraging MSMEs to get listed on the main board of Stock Exchanges.
Along with the financial support offered by the scheme to MSMEs, there are a few provisions designed to benefit their chances of recovery and survival by boosting the market demand and delivery capability of the MSMEs –
Based on above, it seems that MSMEs, who have never availed any loan so far which not be able to get the support under this scheme. The purpose of this scheme may get lost. Government must clarify on this point. Further, the point of contention of funds of fund will always be valuations. Government must come up with the guidelines for the valuations in such cases. The only way for MSMEs at large seems to be through promotor route where promotor will take personal loan and put into MSME as equity.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has announced that the government will support employees and businesses with a combined amount of Rs. 2500 crore and Rs. 6750 crore Liquidity Support. Extending earlier support, and making new provisions for benefits to be applicable to about 6.5 lakh establishments covered under EPFO and about 4.3 crore such employees, the scheme stated –
This can be some relief the MSMEs where 24% cost can be saved on their payroll cost for employees whose salaries are less than Rs. 15,000. Larger MSMEs can save upto 4% of salary cost from this provision. However, most of the companies work on CTC model and this may not directly benefit to the company unless the companies announces a salary cut.
In order to provide more funds at the disposal of the taxpayers, and release Liquidity of Rs. 50,000 crores, the rates of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) for non-salaried specified payments made to residents and rates of Tax Collection at Source (TCS) for the specified receipts shall be reduced by 25% of the existing rates through the entire FY 2020-21 i.e. till 31st March 2021. This reduced rate will be applicable to payment for contract, professional fees, interest, rent, dividend, commission, brokerage, etc. Refer our blog on Revised TDS rates for New TDS rates.
Additionally, several due-dates have been revised, such as –
Immediate Tax refunds to MSMEs is definitely a great relief. Many MSMEs has already received this refund. Extending the due date is not a relief as such because the Indian business are very much used to due date extensions in the past and this doesn’t have any financial relief. Government must differentiate between the financials relief and procedural relief under Covid.
Amidst the difficulties faced by NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs in raising money in debt markets, the Govt. will launch a Rs. 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme, to make investments in both primary and secondary market transactions in investment grade debt paper of NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs. The securities will be fully guaranteed by the Govt. and RBI/Govt. measures will be supplemented to augment the liquidity.
Furthermore, those NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs whose credit rating is too low, will be given liquidity to do fresh lending to MSMEs and individuals via the extension of the PCGS to PCGS 2.0 whichwill also cover borrowings such as primary issuance of Bonds/CPs of such entities. The Govt. will bear the first 20% of the losses. This is estimated to release liquidity of up to Rs. 45000 Crore.
This measure is expected to have some impact on MSMEs getting funds form NBFCs/HFCs and MFIs.
Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) are also at a very low point due to plummeting revenues and unprecedented cash flow problems. Currently, the DISCOM payables to Power Generation and Transmission Companies (Gencos) are ~ Rs 94,000 crore. The Govt. will inject liquidity of Rs.90,000 crore to DISCOMs against receivables through loans given against State guarantees for the exclusive purpose of discharging liabilities of Discoms to Gencos.
The DISCOMs will be required to perform specific activities/ reforms in linkage to these loans, such as –
Central Public Sector Gencos will give a rebate to Discoms, which shall be passed on to the final consumers (industries).
Government should have looked into giving some direct relief to MSMEs in terms of waiving fix load charges for next 6 months. That could have benefited the MSMEs directly in lowering their outflow.
Various other measures to help support the industry, especially MSMEs and small businessmen, are being arranged for, including –
Statutory regulations and compliance requirements are getting temporarily relaxed to encourage economic recovery –
No financial relief. These are just procedural relief and not going to have any implications on MSME survival.
The Reserve Bank of India has been requested by the Govt. of India to provide relied for the economy, and has raised the Ways and Means advanced limits of States by 60% and enhanced the Overdraft duration limits. Additionally, the following measures were also taken –
These measures are expected to solve liquidity issues in the market, which is essential in the current scenario. However, there is no direct benefits to MSMEs in the country.
Certain relief measures are being put into place for contractors to ensure that construction stays alive and begins recovering example
These measures are expected to help a lot of MSMEs who had given bank guarantees on government projects. Bank guarantee also cost money to MSMEs and this will help them to reduce their cost.
The adverse effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and quarantines put projects in risk of defaulting on RERA timelines, and timelines need to be extended. These measures taken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will de-stress real estate developers and ensure completion of projects so that home buyers are able to get delivery of their booked houses with new timelines, by advising States/UTs to –
Since its enactment, RERA has given hard times to Builders. This interim relief will help real estate segments some breather in not falling into trap of RERA. However, real estate expected much significant government support to boost the demand. Considering the existing level of real estate inventory in the country, if immediate steps are not taken by government to boost real estate demand, it will be a challenging situation for this sector.
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