New Delhi: CSC SPV and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed an MoU for providing financial support to CSCs across the country here today in the auspicious presence of Minister of Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad.
During the meeting, Hon’ Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad said that, “I am happy that SIDBI has come forward to support CSCs across the country to promote rural entrepreneurship, and with financial support new avenues of opportunities will come up for CSCs.”
Praising the efforts of CSCs in improving women’s health and hygiene through Stree Swabhiman initiative, he said that, “CSCs are doing outstanding work by providing low-cost sanitary napkins to girls and women in rural India. There are 110 sanitary napkins manufacturing units and till the end of this year each block will have one.”
Referring DigiGaon Dhanaudi Kalan in Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP, Shri Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, MEITY said that, “As CSCs across the country have gained momentum, financial support by SIDBI will undoubtedly create new opportunities for them.”
Dr. Dinesh Kumar Tyagi CEO, CSC SPV asserted that, “Financial support by SIDBI will in long run help upgrade the potential of existing CSCs along with creating new opportunities to rural population.
Through the MoU, the SIDBI seeks to extend financial support to the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) of Common Services Centers, with minimum one year of operation, under the Direct Financing Window of SIDBI.
Under the Direct Financing Window, CSC SPV will approve the list of VLEs, within 25 km distance of SIDBI Branch Offices, who require financial support. To avail the loan, the VLEs need to submit their CSC project, with maximum project outlay of Rs. 3.50 lakh and term loan requirement not exceeding Rs. 2 lakh per project.
Through the MoU, both CSC SPV and SIDBI seek to work together to bring more citizens under the ambit of financial inclusion. Moreover, it also seeks to enhance the financial viability of CSCs by including additional services in their bouquet of products.
Shri Pankaj Kumar, Additional Secretary, MEITY, Shri Sanjay Goyal, CGM, SIDBI, Ashok Kumar Pandey, General Manager, Direct Credit Vertical, SIDBI, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
