ELIGIBLE MSME BORROWERS TO GET OFFER OF PRE-APPROVED LOAN

NEW DELHI: Eligible MSME borrowers will get an offer from their lending institutions for a pre-approved loan under the Rs 3 lakh crore scheme announced for micro, small and medium enterprises to help them deal with the impact of COVID-19.

The Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) of Rs 3 lakh crore was announced as part of Rs 21 lakh crore package by the government.

As per a set of FAQS, GECL is a loan for which 100 per cent guarantee would be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company to Member Lending Institutions (MLIS) -- banks, financial institutions and NBFCS.

The FAQS were issued by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).

The loan will be extended in the form of additional working capital term loan facility in case of banks and additional term loan facility in case of NBFCS to eligible MSMES/ business enterprises and interested Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) borrowers.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) said the scheme is a specific response to the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19.

It seeks to provide muchneeded relief to the MSME sector by incentivising lending institutions to provide additional credit of up to Rs 3

lakh crore at low cost, thereby enabling MSMES to meet their operational liabilities and restart their businesses.

"This is a pre-approved loan. An offer will go out from the MLI to the eligible borrowers for a pre-approved loan which the borrower may choose to accept. If the MSME accepts the offer, it will be required to complete requisite documentation," it said.

An 'opt-out' option will be provided to eligible borrowers and if a borrower is not interested in availing the loan, he/ she may indicate accordingly.

Interest rates under the scheme have been capped at 9.25 per cent for banks and financial institutions, and at 14 per cent for NBFCS.

The tenor of loans provided under GECL will be four years and there will be no pre-payment penalty.