At the recently concluded MSME Summit 2014, where many CEOS of micro, small, and medium-sized companies were present, one participant complained that a public sector bank had sought collateral from him when he applied for a loan under the Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises Scheme. Under the scheme, the bank was supposed to give him a guarantee-free loan of up to Rs 1 crore.
One of the panelists, Amarendra Sinha, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), said, “The bank manager will be suspended.” It seems a renewed effort to rewrite the MSME sector’s destiny – India’s largest employer after agriculture – is on at the MSME Ministry. The slew of steps announced in the Budget is a testimony. They come at a time when the sector’s share in the overall manufacturing output has dipped from 40.79 percent in 2008-09 to 38.48 percent in 2010-11, according to government data.
The ministry is now busy revising the government definition of MSMEs, which classifies companies solely based on investment in plant and machinery not exceeding Rs 10 crore. Defining small businesses is key to properly delivering promotional schemes and policies. While most banks accept the definition based on investment limits for lending purposes, the Excise department looks for turnover. The Factories Act defines MSMEs based on several Frett Board employees.
Photo: A . Prabhakar Rao
Above all, the current definition of MSME falls flat on its face against rising inflation. Ever since the MSME Development Act 2006 came into vogue, equipment prices have doubled. This calls for doubling the upper limits of the classification, as different sectors have different investment needs.
“There are businesses one can start with peanuts, and those like pharmaceuticals or tier-II auto component makers need large investments. Investments in units that make incense sticks or crackers may contain below. Still, turnover and the number of people employed can be huge,” says Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary-General of the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Stakeholders like him want the criteria like several people employed or turnover included. Moreover, the classification based on plants and machinery for funding has failed. “As of now, less than five percent of India’s MSMEs get bank funding,” says Bhardwaj. While the debate is on, Business Today tried to capture SMEs’ spirit by bringing the stories of 13 business ventures that have made it big.
