

Generally Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's speech is preceded by an
element of fear in the minds of Mitron aka the citizens of India. But be it
Lockdown 1.0 or 3.0, each address to the nation has been marked by rejoicing
and zeal. After boosting the morale of India by conducting fly pasts to each
corner of the nation alongside showering flowers, the real news came on 12th
My, 2020, the 50th day of lockdown when Mr. Modi announced an economic package
of around Rs. 20 lakh crores (including measures announced by RBI previously
during the lockdown amounting to nearly 4.0% of the GDP) under the 'AtmaNirbhar
Bharat Abhiyan”. This amounts to nearly 10% of the Indian GDP making it the
second largest stimulus in Asia after Japan. This package will give a new impetus
to the development journey of the country in 2020 and a new direction to the
Self-reliant India campaign.
The magnificent building of self-reliant India
will stand on five Pillars :
Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography and
Demand In order to prove the resolve of a self-reliant India, Land, Labor,
Liquidity and Laws all have been emphasized in this package. This economic
package is for our cottage industry, home industry, our small-scale industry,
our MSME, which is a source of livelihood for millions of people, and extends
till labourer and farmer.
There are mainly 16 measures under Part I announced which can be
categorised as follows:
1. 3 Lacs crore
automatic collateral free loans for businesses including MSME
Emergency Credit Line to
Businesses/MSMEs from Banks and NBFCs up to 20% of entire outstanding credit as
on 29.2.2020
Loans to have 4 year tenor with
moratorium of 12 months on Principal repayment
Interest to be capped
100% credit guarantee cover to Banks and NBFCs on principal and interest
Scheme can be availed till 31st
Oct 2020
No guarantee fee, no fresh collateral
2. Rs 20,000
crore Subordinate Debt for MSMEs
GoI will facilitate provision of Rs. 20,000 cr as subordinate debt
Two lakh MSMEs are likely to benefit
Functioning MSMEs which are NPA or are stressed will be eligible
Govt. will provide a support of Rs. 4,000 Cr. to CGTMSE
CGTMSE will provide partial Credit Guarantee support to Banks
Promoters of the MSME will be
given debt by banks, which will then be infused by promoter as equity in the
Unit.
3. Rs 50,000
cr equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds
Fund of Funds with Corpus of Rs 10,000 crores will be set up.
Will provide equity funding for MSMEs with growth potential and
viability.
FoF will be operated through a
Mother Fund and few daughter funds
Fund structure will help leverage Rs 50,000 cr of funds at daughter
funds level
Will help to expand MSME size as well as capacity.
Will encourage MSMEs to get
listed on main board of Stock Exchanges.
4. New
definition of MSMEs
Low threshold in MSME definition
have created a fear among MSMEs of graduating out of the benefits and hence
killing the urge to grow.
5. Global
tender to be disallowed upto Rs 200 crores
Indian MSMEs and other companies have often faced unfair competition
from foreign companies. Therefore, Global tenders will be disallowed in
Government procurement tenders upto Rs 200 crores
Necessary amendments of General Financial Rules will be effected.
6. Other
interventions for MSMEs
MSMEs currently face problems of
marketing and liquidity due to COVID.
e-market linkage for MSMEs to be
promoted to act as a replacement for trade fairs and exhibitions.
Fintech will be used to enhance transaction based lending using the data
generated by the e-marketplace.
Government has been continuously
monitoring settlement of dues to MSME
vendors from Government and Central
Public Sector Undertakings.
MSME receivables from Gov and
CPSEs to be released in 45 days
7. Rs 2500
crores EPF support for Businesses and Workers for 3 more months
Businesses continue to face financial stress as they get back to work.
Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Package (PMGKP), payment of 12% of employer and 12% employee contributions was
made into EPF accounts of eligible establishments.
This was provided earlier for salary months of March, April and May 2020
This support will be extended by
another 3 months to salary months of June, July and August 2020
This will provide liquidity relief of Rs 2500 cr to 3.67 lakh
establishments and for 72.22 lakh employees.
8. EPF
contribution reduced for Business & Workers for 3 months- Rs 6750 crores
Businesses need support to ramp up production over the next quarter.
It is necessary to provide more
take home salary to employees and also to give relief to employers in payment
of Provident Fund dues,
Therefore, statutory PF
contribution of both employer and employee will be reduced to 10% each from
existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months.
CPSEs and State PSUs will however
continue to contribute 12% as employer contribution.
This scheme will be applicable for workers who are not eligible for 24%
EPF support under PM Garib Kalyan Package and its extension.
This will provide relief to about
6.5 lakh establishments covered under EPFO and about 4.3 crore such employees.
This will provide liquidity of Rs 6750 Crore to employers and employees
over 3 months.
9. Rs 30,000
crores Liquidity Facility for NBFC/HCs/MFIs
NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs are finding it difficult to raise money in debt markets.
Government will launch a Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme
Under this scheme investment will
be made in both primary and secondary market transactions in investment grade
debt paper of NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs
Will supplement RBI/Government
measures to augment liquidity
Securities will be fully
guaranteed by GoI
This will provide liquidity support for NBFCs/HFC/MFIs and mutual funds
and create confidence in the market.
10. Rs 45,000
cr Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 for NBFC
NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs with low
credit rating require liquidity to do fresh lending to MSMEs and individuals
Existing PCGS scheme to be extended to cover borrowings such as primary
issuance of Bonds/ CPs (liability side of balance sheets) of such entities
First 20% of loss will be borne
by the Guarantor i.e.., Government of India.
AA paper and below including unrated paper eligible for investment (esp.
relevant for many MFIs) This scheme will result in liquidity of Rs 45,000 crores
11. Rs 90,000
cr Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
Revenues of Power Distribution
Companies (DISCOMs) have plummeted.
Unprecedented cash flow problem accentuated by demand reduction
DISCOM payables to Power
Generation and Transmission Companies is currently ~ Rs 94,000 cr
PFC/REC to infuse liquidity of Rs 90,000 cr to DISCOMs against
receivables
Loans to be given against State guarantees for exclusive purpose of
discharging liabilities of Discoms to Gencos.
Linkage to specific
activities/reforms: Digital payments facility by Discoms for consumers,
liquidation of outstanding dues of State Governments, Plan to reduce financial
and operational losses.
Central Public Sector Generation Companies shall give rebate to Discoms
which shall be passed on to the final consumers (industries)
12. Relief to
contractors
Extension of up to 6 months
(without costs to contractor) to be provided by all Central Agencies (like
Railways, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Central Public Works Dept,
etc)
Covers construction/ works and goods and services contracts
Covers obligations like completion of work, intermediate milestones etc.
and extension of Concession period in PPP contracts
Government agencies to partially release bank guarantees, to the extent
contracts are partially completed, to ease cash flows
13. Extension
of Registration and Completion Date of Real Estate Projects under RERA
Adverse impact due to COVID and projects stand the risk of defaulting on
RERA timelines. Time lines need to be extended.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
will advise States/UTs and their Regulatory Authorities to the following
effect:
Treat COVID-19 as an event of 'Force Majeure' under RERA.
Extend the registration and
completion date suo-moto by 6 months for all registered projects expiring on or
after 25th March, 2020 without individual applications.
Regulatory Authorities may extend this for another period of upto 3
months, if needed
Issue fresh 'Project Registration
Certificates' automatically with revised timelines.
Extend timelines for various statuary
compliances under RERA concurrently.
These measures will de-stress real estate developers and ensure
completion of projects so that homebuyers are able to get delivery of their
booked houses with new timelines.
14. Rs 50,000
cr liquidity through TDS/TCS reductions
In order to provide more funds at
the disposal of the taxpayers, 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.
Payment for contract, professional
fees, interest, rent, dividend, commission, brokerage, etc. shall be eligible
for this reduced rate of TDS.
This reduction shall be
applicable for the remaining part of the FY 2020-21 i.e. from tomorrow to 31st
March, 2021.
This measure will release Liquidity
of Rs. 50,000 crore.
15.
Other Direct tax Measures
All pending refunds to charitable
trusts and non- corporate businesses & professions including
proprietorship, partnership, LLP and Co-operatives shall be issued immediately.
Due date of all income-tax return
for FY 2019-20 will be extended from 31st July, 2020 & 31st October, 2020
to 30th November, 2020 and Tax audit from 30th September, 2020 to 31st
October,2020.
16. Other
Direct Tax Measures
Date of assessments getting barred on 30th September,2020 extended to
31st December,2020 and those getting barred on 31st March,2021 will be extended
to 30th September,2021.
Period of Vivad se Vishwas Scheme for making payment without additional
amount will be extended to 31st December,2020.
These measures are shall not be just a financial package, but a reform
stimulus, a mindset overhaul, and a thrust in governance. They would provide
immediate and the much-needed relief to MSMEs, micro finance institutions,
housing finance companies, stressed real estate and construction sectors.
Additional collateral & guarantee free loans, equity funding options,
better access to government procurement, e-market linkage and higher thresholds
definitely are strong enablers to put the economy back on its feet.
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Wouldn't it be a good idea to create a course?