SAMEEKSHA Finance for MSMEs

SAMEEKSHA refers to Small and Medium Enterprises Energy Efficiency Knowledge Sharing. SAMEEKSHA is a platform for assisting Micro Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) to make optimal utilisation of energy. It helps MSMEs to evolve manufacturing techniques which are environment-friendly and energy-efficient. SAMEEKSHA also plays a role in ensuring that adequate capital finance is available for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs may require credit to purchase capital equipment to upgrade to a more commercially and environmentally viable technology. In such circumstances, the entrepreneur can approach SAMEEKSHA. SAMEEKSHA issues an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC). The certification indicates that the entrepreneur is availing of the finance to upgrade to a more environment-friendly technology. It also enhances the rating of the applicant at the time of applying for credit. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the designated authority for sanctioning loans to entrepreneurs who have obtained the ECC. By using the ECC, MSMEs can avail finance to a maximum extent of three-hundred lakh rupees. SAMEEEKSHA aims to implement a collaborative platform for collectivising the knowledge and harnessing the efforts of various institutions and organisations which work towards meeting the energy requirements of the MSME sector. SAMEEKSHA achieves optimal energy efficiency among the MSMEs by ensuring the adoption of pollution-free technologies and methods. SAMEEKSHA also organises programs for entrepreneurs to impart training for know-how in pollution-free manufacturing processes. The plans for training entrepreneurs include providing opportunities for adaptation in the competitive environment, self-study, research, and experimentation through participation. The objective of SAMEEKSHA is to enable the MSME entrepreneurs to adopt a commercially feasible approach in implementing environmentally viable techniques of manufacture.

Inputs to Entrepreneurs

SAMEEKSHA provides information on the following issues to MSME entrepreneurs:

Usage of fuels which have a minimal amount of polluting effect at little or zero extra cost
Improvement of operating practices in manufacturing entities to reduce consumption of raw materials
Development and implementation of mechanisms for recovery and reuse of wasted heat in manufacturing processes
Formulation of cost-effective options for energy usage which result in measurable energy savings for the enterprise
Creation of strategies for planned usage of energy resulting in lower payback periods for the enterprise
Optimal utilisation of fuel and mineral resources and other raw materials which are available at affordable prices
Ensuring that machine-operators can use the alternative fuels which are available to entrepreneurs without the need for significant additional investment in manpower training expenditure
Facilitating exploration of opportunities and methods for improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel costs and research on alternative energy sources
Providing a database to entrepreneurs regarding the legal and regulatory compliance framework which applies to MSMEs

Credit Appraisal and Rating Tool

SIDBI uses a mechanism known as the Credit Appraisal and Rating Tool (CART) to evaluate requests for credit. The CART is an automated feedback-mechanism used to appraise the credit-worthiness of entrepreneurs who are applying for finance. It uses a software program which employs user-fed statistics to derive a measure of credit-worthiness and assign it to the applicant.
The CART is capable of processing both long-term loans and working-capital finance. It is used only when the loan amount is less than one hundred lakh rupees. Hence, major credit requests, particularly from Too Big To Fail (TBtF) companies, are not routed through the CART.
The CART uses statistical prediction methods to check the likelihood of default on a credit product in the case of a particular applicant. It is used by all credit-sanctioning authorities which deploy template lending procedures, including SIDBI. A template lending procedure is one in which a database is used to approve or reject requests for credit. The database contains information about the industry as a whole. It also accepts inputs from individual loan applicants. By matching industry information with the applicants' data, the software recommends the applications which can be accepted.

Procedure for Availing Finance

The entrepreneur who is availing of a loan to finance the purchase of machinery should approach SAMEEKSHA. The requirement to contact SAMEEKSHA will arise if the entrepreneur is shifting the capital towards a more environment-friendly technology. The ECC issued by SAMEEKSHA will enhance the rating of the credit-application submitted by the entrepreneur.

Application

The applicant should make an application to SIDBI. The application should be made as per the prescribed format. It should contain the following annexures:

Biodata of the proprietor, partners or promoters and directors of the company as per Format I
Net Worth Statement of the promoters and directors as per Format II, as certified by a practising Chartered Accountant (CA)
Project Feasibility Report as per Format III, including projected balance sheets for the subsequent two years showing year-wise break-up of the anticipated working capital requirements

The specified formats are given below for reference:

Enclosures

The following enclosures should accompany the application:

Basic Applicant Information according to the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms which are applicable to nationalised banks
Permanent Account Number (PAN)
Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN)
Identity and address proof for the proprietor or partners of the firm or directors of the company (Voter’s Identification Card, Passport, or Aadhaar Card)
Address proof for the business (Electricity bill issued by the State Electricity Board, Property tax receipt issued by the Revenue Department)
Income Tax returns which have been filed by the applicant for the last three years, together with Income Tax returns filed by the proprietor or partners or promoters and directors for the past three years
In case the business premises is availed on rent, rental agreement
Details of Udyog Aadhar registration
When the applicant belongs to the SC and ST category, the relevant community certificate proofs
In case the capital is shifted towards a more environment-friendly technology, and the applicant has approached SAMEEKSHA to obtain the ECC, details of the status of the ECC application
ECC in case it has been received before the time of making the credit application