Drawing parallels with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 June 2020 announced measures focused on ‘Getting Back to Work’ i.e., enabling employees and employers, businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to get back to production and workers to get back to gainful employment. Efforts to strengthen Non-Banking Finance Institutions (NBFCs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), Micro Finance sector and Power sector were also unfolded. Other than this, the tax relief to business, relief from contractual commitments to contractors in public procurement and compliance relief to Real Estate sector were also covered.
Following measures were announced:
1. Rs. 3 lakh crore emergency Working Capital Facility for businesses, including MSMEs
To provide relief to businesses, additional working capital finance of 20 per cent of the outstanding credit as on 29 February 2020, in the form of a term loan at a concessional rate of interest will be provided. This will be available to units with up to Rs. 25 crore outstanding and turnover of up to Rs. 100 crore whose accounts are standard. The units will not have to provide any guarantee or collateral of their own. The amount will be 100 per cent guaranteed by the government of India providing a total liquidity of Rs. 3 lakh crore to more than 45 lakh MSMEs.
2. Rs. 20,000 crore subordinate debt for stressed MSMEs
Provision made for Rs. 20,000 crore subordinate debt for two lakh MSMEs which are NPA or are stressed. Government will support them with Rs. 4,000 crore to Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). Banks are expected to provide the subordinate-debt to promoters of such MSMEs equal to 15 per cent of his existing stake in the unit subject to a maximum of Rs. 75 lakhs.
3. Rs. 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME 'Fund of Funds'
Government will set up a 'Fund of Funds' with a corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore that will provide equity funding support for MSMEs. The 'Fund of Funds' shall be operated through a mother and a few daughter funds. It is expected that with leverage of 1:4 at the level of daughter funds, the 'Fund of Funds' will be able to mobilise equity of about Rs. 50,000 crore.
4. New definition of MSME
Definition of MSME will be revised by raising their investment limit. An additional criteria of turnover has also been introduced. The distinction between manufacturing and service sector will also be eliminated.
5. Other measures for MSME
E-market linkage for MSMEs will be promoted to act as a replacement for trade fairs and exhibitions. MSME receivables from government and CPSEs will be released in 45 days.
6. No global tenders for government tenders of up to Rs. 200 crore
General Financial Rules (GFR) of the government will be amended to disallow global tender enquiries in procurement of goods and services of value of less than Rs. 200 crore
7. Employees Provident Fund support for business and organised workers
The scheme introduced as part of PMGKP under which Government of India contributes 12 per cent of salary each on behalf of both employer and employee to the EPF will be extended by another 3 months for salary months of June, July and August 2020. Total benefits accrued is about Rs. 2,500 crores to 72.22 lakh employees.
8. EPF contribution to be reduced for employers and employees for 3 months
Statutory PF contribution of both employer and employee reduced to 10 per cent each from existing 12 per cent each for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months. This will provide liquidity of about Rs. 2,250 crore per month.
9. Rs. 30,000 crores special liquidity scheme for NBFC/HFC/MFIs
Government will launch Rs. 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme, liquidity being provided by RBI. Investment will be made in primary and secondary market transactions in investment grade debt paper of NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs. This will be 100 percent guaranteed by the government of India.
10. Rs. 45,000 crores partial credit guarantee scheme 2.0 for liabilities of NBFCs/MFIs
Existing partial credit guarantee scheme is being revamped and now will be extended to cover the borrowings of lower rated NBFCs, HFCs and other Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs). Government of India will provide 20 percent first loss sovereign guarantee to Public Sector Banks.
11. Rs. 90,000 crore liquidity injection for DISCOMs
Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation will infuse liquidity in the DISCOMs to the extent of Rs. 90,000 crores in two equal installments. This amount will be used by DISCOMs to pay their dues to transmission and generation companies. Further, CPSE GENCOs will give a rebate to DISCOMs on the condition that the same is passed on to the final consumers as a relief towards their fixed charges.
12. Relief to contractors
All central agencies like Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and CPWD will give extension of up to 6 months for completion of contractual obligations, including, in respect of EPC and concession agreements
13. Relief to real estate projects
State governments are being advised to invoke the 'Force Majeure' clause under RERA. The registration and completion date for all registered projects will be extended up to 6 months and may be further extended by another 3 months based on the state’s situation. Various statutory compliances under RERA will also be extended concurrently.
14. Tax relief to business
The pending income tax refunds to charitable trusts and non-corporate businesses and professions including proprietorship, partnership and LLPs and cooperatives shall be issued immediately.
15. Tax-related measures
• Reduction in rates of ‘Tax Deduction at Source’ and ‘Tax Collected at Source” - The TDS rates for all non-salaried payment to residents, and tax collected at source rate will be reduced by 25 percent of the specified rates for the remaining period of FY 20-21.This will provided liquidity to the tune of Rs. 50,000 crore.
