Stand-Up India Scheme

Stand-Up India Scheme
 

News: On completion of 7 years of Stand-Up India scheme, the PM acknowledged the role that the initiative has played in empowering the SC/ST communities, women and job creation.
 

About:
 It was launched by Ministry of Finance on 5th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation. This scheme has been extended up to the year 2025.
 It seeks to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
 It facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one SC/ST borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise (the first-time venture) only. This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector.
 

How can bank loans be accessed?
 The scheme aims to encourage all bank branches in extending loans. The desiring applicants can apply under the scheme:
 Directly at the branch or, Through Stand-Up India Portal (www.standupmitra.in) or, Through the Lead District Manager (LDM).
 

Eligibility criteria for Loans:
 SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age.
 Loans under the scheme are available for only green field projects.
 In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.
 Borrowers should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.
 In any case, the borrower shall be required to bring in a minimum of 10 % of the project cost as own contribution.
 

Achievements of Scheme:
 Rs.40,710 crore has been sanctioned under Stand-Up India Scheme to 180,636 accounts in the last 7 years. More than 80% of loans given under this scheme have been provided to women.
 To extend collateral-free coverage, the Government of India has set up the Credit Guarantee Fund for Stand Up India (CGFSI).
 Awareness campaigns were organized including melas, financial literacy camps to promote the scheme.
 Hand-holding (pre and post-sanction of the loan) - Hand-holding of borrowers from the targeted community, CM helpline for query resolution (Burhanpur, MP), etc.