Open MSME intensive branches: FinMin to PSU banks

In order to increase credit availability to small businesses, the finance ministry has asked public sector banks to open MSME intensive branches.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are a huge employment generator in the country, contribute 40 per cent of the India's manufacturing.

To cater to the segment, banks have been advised to open specialised branches with skilled manpower to handle the requirement of employment intensive MSME sector, sources said.

The decision to this respect was taken in the 'PSB Manthan' organised by the finance ministry last month.

Besides, they were also advised to strengthen cluster based lending, sources said, adding that branches would help in channelising loans to the sector which is engine of growth.

As many as 50 clusters have been identified for enhanced access to financing, sources added.

Small Industries Development Bank of India has revamped udyamimitra.in portal, so that banks compete for financing MSME projects.

It is to be noted that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in October had announced an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore plan to strengthen public sector banks that are reeling under high non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans.

The capital infusion, Jaitley had said, will be accompanied by reforms to enable the state-owned banks to play major role in the financial system and give a strong push to the job-creating MSME sector.

NPAs of PSBs rose to Rs 7.33 lakh crore as of June 2017, from Rs 2.75 lakh crore in March 2015.