Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagamohan Reddy is set to launch outreach programme ‘Navodayam’ for thousands of ailing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, with a one-time restructuring of loans that will provide the required lifeline for small industrial units.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2019
The state has been witnessing a surge in growth of MSMEs with over 10,068 units set up in 2018-19 with an investment of Rs 3,443 crore, providing employment to 93,240 people.
The state cabinet approved the scheme at its recent meeting and the Department of Industries and Commerce subsequently worked out the modalities to make Navodayam operational.
About 86,000 MSMEs in the state have been identified for restructuring under Navodayam with an outlay of Rs 3,900 crore, sources in the Department of Industries and Commerce said.
While the state government has earmarked Rs 50 crore in the 2019-20 budget for rejuvenation of MSMEs, the Department of Industries and Commerce approached the Reserve Bank of India for mobilising the required financial resources for the project.
Two sub-SLBC meetings have also been held with bankers in the state for getting the NPA accounts of MSMEs restructured so that the respective accounts are brought back to ‘standard’ level, the sources said.
“Navodayam will provide a lifeline to stressed MSMEs by ensuring that all eligible units are permitted for one-time restructuring of accounts up to March 31, 2020. We are also creating a new ecosystem for rejuvenation and development of MSMEs in the state through a slew of initiatives,” said Principal Secretary for Industries and Infrastructure Rajat Bhargava.
Through these measures, infrastructure worth over Rs 3,900 crore would not become non-performing assets (NPAs), he noted.
Under Navodayam, a special cell is being created at each District Industries Centre, headed by the General Manager, to provide handholding support to all restructured MSMEs for six months to stabilise the accounts.
Further, studies will be conducted in all districts on sector-specific enterprises to identify key issues that need to be addressed and make the MSME ecosystem more robust.
In February 2019, the Andhra Pradesh state Budget for 2019-20 allocated Rs 1,000 crore to MSMEs out of which Rs 500 crore will be used for developing MSME parks. Further, Rs 400 crore will be used for providing incentives to new MSMEs.
