Priority Sector

 
Small Scale Industries

1.1. Small Scale and Ancillary Industries

Small scale industrial units are those engaged in the manufacture, processing or preservation of goods and whose investment in plant and machinery (original cost) does not exceed Rs.1 crore. These would, inter alia, include units engaged in mining or quarrying, servicing and repairing of machinery. In the case of ancillary units, the investment in plant and machinery (original cost) should also not exceed Rs. 1 crore to be classified under small-scale industry.

The investment limit of Rs. 1 crore for classification as SSI has been enhanced to Rs.5 crore in respect of certain specified items under hosiery, hand tools, drugs & pharmaceuticals, stationery items and sports goods by the Government of India.

1.2. Tiny Enterprises

The status of ‘Tiny Enterprises’ may be given to all small scale units whose investment in plant & machinery is up to Rs. 25 lac, irrespective of the location of the unit.

1.3 Small Scale Service & Business Enterprises (SSSBEs)

1.3.1. Industry related service and business enterprises with investment up to Rs. 10 lac in fixed assets, excluding land and building will be given benefits of small scale sector. For computation of value of fixed assets, the original price paid by the original owner will be considered irrespective of the price paid by subsequent owners.

1.3.2. An illustrative list of eligible activities as SSSBEs and the illustrative list of activities that will not qualify as SSSBEs is given in Annexures A - I & A - II respectively.

1.4. Indirect finance in the small-scale industrial sector will include credit to :

1.4.1 Agencies involved in assisting the decentralized sector in the supply of inputs and marketing of outputs of artisans, village and cottage industries.

1.4.2 Government sponsored Corporation/organizations providing funds to the Weaker sections in the priority sector.

1.4.3 Advances to handloom co-operatives.

1.4.4 Term finance/loans in the form of lines of credit made available to State Industrial Development Corporation/State Financial Corporations for financing SSIs.

1.4.5 Credit provided by banks to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the scheme for provision of credit to KVIC by consortium of banks for lending to viable Khadi and Village Industrial Units.

1.4.6 Funds provided by commercial banks to SIDBI/SFCs will be eligible for inclusion under the priority sector as indirect finance to SSI.

1.4.7

1. Financing of NBFCs or other intermediaries for on-lending to the tiny sector.

2. All new loans granted by banks to NBFCs and other intermediaries for on-lending to SSI sector with effect from November 11, 2003.

1.5 Industrial Estates

Loans for setting up industrial estates.

1.6 KVI Sector

All advances to KVI sector, irrespective of their size of operations, location and investment in plant and machinery, will be covered under priority sector advances and will also be eligible for consideration under the sub-target (60 percent) of the SSI Segment within the priority sector.

1.7 Manufacture of common salt through any process including manual operation (involving Solar evaporation) may be considered as an industrial activity and credit provided by banks to units engaged in the manufacture of common salt which satisfy the norms of SSI Unit may be classified under advances to SSI.

1.8 Units engaged in ship breaking/dismantling are composite ones which also undertake the processing of scrap thus obtained and hence the entire activity can be covered under processing. Therefore, all small scale industrial units with original cost of plant and machinery not exceeding Rs. 1 crore and engaged in ship breaking/dismantling activity may be considered as small scale industrial undertaking and bank advances to such units reckoned as priority sector advances.

1.9 Bank loans to bought leaf factories manufacturing tea are to be reckoned as priority Sector lending to small scale industry, provided the investment in plant and machinery (original cost) does not exceed the prescribed limits.

1.10 Water mills (Gharat) has been recognized as an industrial activity and shall be eligible for registration as small scale industry.

2. Food and Agro-based Processing Sector

The following items within the food and agro-based processing sector would be eligible for classification as priority sector for lending by banks :

• Fruit and vegetable processing industry

• Food grain milling industry

• Dairy products

• Processing of poultry and eggs, meat products

• Fish processing

• Bread, oilseeds, meals (edible), breakfast foods, biscuits, confectionery (including cocoa processing and chocolate), malt extract, protein isolate, high protein food, weaning food and extruded/other ready to eat food products

• Aerated water/soft drinks and other processed foods

• Special packaging for food processing industries

• Technical assistance and advice to food processing industries

With regard to the size of the units within this sector, it may be mentioned that so long the food and agro-based processing units of small and medium size with investment in plant and machinery up to Rs. 5 crore were included under priority sector lending. Subsequently, as per Government’s revised policy the investment ceiling (up to Rs. 5 crore) has been altogether withdrawn.

2.1 Software Industry

Loans to software industry with credit limit upto Rs. 1 crore from the banking industry to be included under this item.

2.2 Venture Capital

Investment in Venture Capital will be eligible for inclusion in priority sector, subject to the condition that the venture capital funds/companies are registered with SEBI.

However, fresh investments that may be made by Bank on or after July 1, 2005 shall not be eligible for classification under priority sector lending and the investments, which has already been made by Bank up to June 30, 2005, shall not be eligible for classification under priority sector lending with effect from April 1, 2006.

3. Lines of Credit

3.1 Banks may consider on merit, proposals received from State Industrial Development Corporations (SIDCs) and State Financial Corporations (SFCs) for sanction of term Finance/loans in the form of lines of credit.

3.2 Such term finance/loans to the extent granted for/to the Small Scale Industrial (SSI) Units, will be treated as priority sector lending, subject to the observation of following Conditions:

1. SFC/ SIDC should maintain separate and distinct accounts of fresh disbursements made to SSI units and outstanding amounts there against.

2. Periodical statements to be obtained from SFC/ SIDC to monitor the position.

3. Annually, a certificate issued by SFC/ SIDC statutory auditors certifying that the outstanding borrowings from banks were fully covered by the non-overdue loans outstanding in respect of fresh disbursements made to SSI units from out of term finance/ lines of credit granted by banks.

4. The rate of interest to be charged by banks on such term finance/ loans/ lines of credit will be in conformity with the directives on interest rates issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

3.3 In order to ensure adequate credit to this sector, the credit requirements of village industries and other SSI units having aggregate fund-based working capital limits upto Rs. 5 crores from the banking system, will be computed on the basis of a minimum of 20 percent of their projected annual turnover for new as well as existing units.

4. Bills Rediscounting

4.1 Funds provided by SIDBI to Commercial banks by way of rediscounting of bills of SSIs which are originally discounted by a commercial bank and rediscounted by SIDBI will be eligible for inclusion under the priority sector as indirect finance to SSI.

4.2 Funds provided by commercial banks to State Financial Corporations (SFCs) by way of rediscounting of bills of SSIs earlier discounted by the SFCs will be eligible for inclusion under the priority sector as indirect finance to SSI.

5. Leasing and Hire Purchase

Para-banking activities such as leasing and hire purchase financing undertaken departmentally by bank will be classified as priority sector advances, provided the ultimate beneficiary satisfies the criteria laid down by RBI for treating such advances as advances to priority sector.

SECTION IV

COMMON GUIDELINES/INSTRUCTIONS for LENDING TO SSI sector

1. Based on the recommendations made by the Working Groups and High Powered Committees, appointed by the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India, a set of comprehensive guidelines to be followed for advances to all categories of borrowers in the SSI sector were evolved.

2. Processing of Applications

2.1. Issue of Acknowledgement of Loan Applications

Bank should give acknowledgement for loan applications received from the borrowers towards this purpose, while getting fresh stocks of application forms printed, it may be ensured that these forms have perforated portion for acknowledgement to be completed and issued by the receiving branch. Each branch may affix on the main application form as well as the corresponding portion for acknowledgement, a running serial number. While using the existing stock of application forms till then, an acknowledgement (separately prepared) should be given for each application, care being taken to ensure that the serial number given on the acknowledgement is also recorded on the main application.

2.2. Disposal of Applications

All loan applications for SSI up to a credit limit of Rs.25,000/- be disposed of within 2 weeks and those up to Rs.5 lac within 4 weeks and those above Rs.5 lac. within 8 to 9 weeks provided the loan applications are complete in all respects and accompanied by a ‘check list’.

2.3. Register of Rejected Applications

A register should be maintained at branch wherein the date of receipt, sanction/rejection/ disbursement with reasons therefore etc., should be recorded. The register should be made available to all inspecting agencies.

1. Rejection of applications for fresh limits/enhancement of existing limits should not be done without the approval of the next higher authority.

2. Sanction of reduced limits should be reported to the next higher authority immediately with full details for review and confirmation.

2.4 Assessment of working capital

Guiding formats for appraisal of SSI loan proposal up to Rs. 25 lac and up to Rs. 2 crore have been shown in Appendix.

2.5 Margin

15% to 25% as per H.O. guidelines and prevailing schemes of the bank.

2.6 Collaterals

No collateral security is required for SSI borrowal accounts having overall limit upto Rs. 5 lac. Bank may, however, on the basis of good track record and financial position of the SSI units, increase the limit of dispensation of collateral requirement for loans up to Rs.15 lac and even further increase limit upto Rs. 25 lac if CGTSI Scheme is applied to get insurance coverage.

2.7. Composite loan

A composite loan limit of Rs.1 crore can be sanctioned by banks to enable the SSI entrepreneurs to avail of their working capital and term loan requirement through Single Window.

2.8. Delayed payment

Under the Amendment Act, 1998 of interest on Delayed Payment to Small Scale and Ancillary Industrial Undertakings, penal provisions have been incorporated to take care of delayed payments to SSI units which inter-alia stipulates a) agreement between seller and buyer shall not exceed more than 120 days, b) payment of interest by the buyers at the rate of one and a half times the prime lending rate (PLR) of SBI for any delay beyond the agreed period not exceeding 120 days. Further, Bank has been advised to fix sub-limits within the overall working capital limits to the large borrowers specifically for meeting the payment obligation in respect of purchases from SSI.

2.9. Revised guidelines on rehabilitation of sick SSI units (based on Kohli Working Group recommendation)

As per the revised definition, a unit is considered as sick when any of the borrowal account of the unit remains substandard for more than 6 months i.e. if the principal or interest remain overdue for a period exceeding one year. The requirement of overdue period exceeding one year will remain unchanged even if the period for classification of account as substandard is reduced in due course, or, there is erosion in the net worth due to accumulated cash losses to the extent of 50% of its net worth during the previous accounting year and the unit has been in commercial production for at least two years. The revised criteria will enable Bank to detect sickness at an early stage and facilitate corrective action for revival of the unit. As per the revised guidelines the rehabilitation package should be fully implemented within six months from the date the unit is declared as potentially viable/ viable. During this six months period of identifying and implementing rehabilitation package Bank/Fls are required to do "holding operation" which will allow the sick unit to draw funds from the cash credit account at least to the extent of deposit of sale proceeds.

Following are broad parameters for grant of relief and concessions for revival of potentially viable sick SSI units.

1. Interest on Working Capital Interest 1.5% below the prevailing fixed/prime lending rate, wherever applicable
    
2. Funded Interest Term Loan Interest Free
    
3. Working Capital Term Loan Interest to be charged 1.5% to 3% below the prevailing fixed/prime lending rate, wherever applicable.
    
4. Term Loan Concessions in the interest to be given not more than 2% (not more than 3% in the case of tiny/decentralized sector units) below the document rate.
    
5. Contingency Loan Assistance The Concessional rate allowed for Working Capital Assistance.

3.Mode of Disbursement of Loan

As far as possible, disbursement of loan amounts sanctioned should be made directly to the suppliers of inputs such as raw materials implements, machinery, etc. However, Bank may continue the practice of obtaining receipts from borrowers.

4.Repayment Schedule

4.1 Repayment programme should be fixed taking into account the sustenance requirements, surplus generating capacity, the break-even point, the life of the asset, etc., and not in an "ad hoc" manner. In respect of composite loan up to Rs.50,000/- to artisans, village and cottage industries, repayment schedule may be fixed for term loan component only (subject to SIDBI’s requirements being fulfilled).
4.2 In the case of other borrowers affected by natural calamities, banks may convert drawings in excess of the value of security into a term loan repayable over a reasonable period of time and provide further working capital and extend/re-phase the instalements due under term loans.

5.Rate of Interest

Interest shall be charged at a rate as prescribed by Head Office from time to time. Interest shall be charged on this outstanding debit balance on working capital and on reducing balance in case of term loan.

6.Penal Interest

No penal interest should be charged by banks for loans under priority sector up to Rs.25,000/-. However, the issue of charging penal interests that should be levied for reasons such as default in repayment, non-submission of financial statements etc. have been incorporated in the Lending Policy of the Bank for loans above Rs.25,000/-

7. Service Charges/ Inspection Charges

1. No service charges/inspection charges should be levied on priority sector loans up to Rs.25,000/-
    
2. For loans above Rs.25,000/- ---- as per H.O. Guidelines.

8. Insurance against Fire and Other Risks

Table showing insurance exemption for the Category, Risk and the assets is given below:

9. Photographs of borrowers

For the purpose of identification, branch should make arrangements for the photographs and also bear the cost of photographs of borrowers falling in the category of Weaker Sections. Otherwise it will be borne by the borrower. It should also be ensured that the procedure does not involve any delay in loan disbursement.

10. Amendments

These guidelines are subject to any instructions that may be issued by the RBI from time to time.

11. Annexures

A.General Guidelines on SSI Sector Landing—A - I and A - II

B.Check-list for SSI Entrepreneurs

C.Check-list for Branch Managers--- SSI Proposals

D.The guiding formats for Appraisal of SSI Loan Proposal up to Rs. 25 lac and also above Rs. 25 lac to Rs. 2 crore have been given in Appendix.

 

Annexure—A - I

GENERAL GUIDELINES ON SSI SECTOR LENDING

Illustrative List of Small Scale Service and Business (Industry Related)
Enterprises (SSSBEs)

( As per circular issued by the Ministry of SSI, Government of India )

1. Advertising Agencies.
    
2. Marketing Consultancy
    
3. Industrial Consultancy
    
4. Equipment Rental & Leasing
    
5. Typing Centres
    
6. Photocopying centres (Xeroxing)
    
7. Industrial Photography
    
8. Industrial R & D Labs
    
9. Industrial Testing Labs
    
10. Desk Top Publishing
     
11. Internet Browsing/Setting up of Cyber Cafes
     
12. Auto Repair, Services and Garages
     
13. Documentary Films on themes like family planning, social forestry, energy conservation and commercial advertising
     
14. Laboratories engaged in testing of raw materials, finished products.
     
15. ‘Servicing Industry’ undertakings engaged in maintenance, repair, testing or servicing of all types of vehicles & machinery of any description including electronic/electrical equipment/instruments. i.e., measuring/control instruments, televisions, tape recorders, VCRs, radios, transformers, motors, watches etc.
     
16. Laundry & Dry-cleaning.
     
17. X-Ray Clinic
     
18. Tailoring
     
19. Servicing of Agricultural Farm equipment, e.g., Tractor, Pump, Rig. Boring Machines, etc.
     
20. Weigh Bridge
     
21. Photographic Lab
     
22. Blue printing and enlargement of drawing/designs facilities
     
23. ISD/STD Booths
     
24. Teleprinter/FAX services
     
25. Sub-contracting Exchanges (SCXs) established by Industry Associations
     
26. EDP Institutes established by Voluntary Associations/Non-Government Organisations
     
27. Coloured, and Black & White Studios equipped with processing laboratory
     
28. Ropeways in hilly areas
     
29. Installation and operation of Cable TV Network
     
30. Operating EPABX under franchises
     
31. Beauty Parlours and Creches

(Computerized Design and Drafting, Creation of Databases suitable for foreign/Indian markets and Computer Software Development which were hitherto being registered as SSSBE, have since been deleted from the list as Computer Software Development and Software Services (including computer graphics, engineering design, computerized design and drafting) have since been recognized as industrial activity eligible for registration as Small Scale industries).

Annexure—A - II

GENERAL GUIDELINES ON SSI SECTOR LENDING

Illustrative List of Activities which are not Recognised as SSSBE’s

Illustrative List of Activities which are not recognized as Small Scale Industry/ Business (Industry Related) Enterprises i.e. SSSBE’s

1. Transportation
    
2. Storage (except cold storage which is recognized as SSI)
    
3. Retail/Wholesale Trade Establishments
    
4. General Merchandise Stores
    
5. Sales Outlets for Industrial Components
    
6. Health Services including pathological laboratories
    
7. Legal Services
    
8. Educational Services
    
9. Social Services
    
10. Hotels

Annexure—B

CHECK-LIST FOR SSI ENTERPRENEURS

Please check whether you have covered all the following points (which are applicable) in your Application

1. Are you registered with Directorate of Cottage & Small Scale Industries? If so, please furnish a photocopy of the same alongwith your application.
    
2. Do you have Trade Licence? If so, is it up-to-date? Please furnish a photocopy of the Current Licence alongwith your application.
    
3. Do you have Sale Tax Registration? If so, is it up-to-date? Please furnish a photocopy of the same alongwith your application.
    
4. Are you Income Tax Assessee? If so, please furnish a photocopy of the last Income Tax Return and a photocopy of the last Income Tax Clearance Certificate alongwith your application.
    
5. Please mention in your application separately address of your Head Office, address of Registered Office, address of the Factory/ Establishment/ Unit/ Centre and Home address of Proprietor or of all the Partners or of all the Promoters Directors alongwith telephone, fax, mobile number and brief bio-data.
    
6. If it is a Company, please furnish a list of major shareholders of the company alongwith your application.
    
7. If it is a Partnership Firm, please furnish a photocopy of Partnership Deed (if it is a registered one, then photocopy of the same) and a photocopy of partnership firm Registration Certificate alongwith your application.
    
8. Please mention the names and addresses of the buyers of your major products or who obtain your services or who place upon you orders for execution in your application.
    
9. Please mention the names and addresses of Firms/Units/Shops from whom you purchase major part/most of your materials/components/stores & spares etc. in your application.
    
10. If an existing firm/company, please furnish photocopy of last three years’ balance Sheets and Profit & Loss Statements (if these are audited, please furnish audited Balance Sheet) and Projected Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement alongwith your application. In case of new Firm/Company, projections for consecutive two years should be submitted alongwith the application.
     
11. Have you made any assessment for working capital requirement and corresponding requirements of bank borrowing for your projected plan/ programme? Please furnish a copy of the same alongwith your application.
     
12. Have you made/prepared any Project Report? If so, has it been vetted by SISI or DIC ? Please furnish a photocopy of the same alongwith your application.
     
13. If there is any Factory/Servicing Unit, please furnish details of machinery (portable or embedded) and plants alongwith your application (name, year of purchase, make, specification, original price, present book value).
     
14. If the Factory/Servicing unit is housed in a rented shed/premises please furnish photocopy of rent agreement or lease agreement and photocopy of current rent receipt alongwith your application.
     
15. If the Factory shed or servicing station (land & building) is owned by you, please furnish proof of the same alongwith your application.
     
16. If rules/regulations of Pollution Control Board is applicable on you, please furnish proof whether you have received/obtained necessary clearance from them.
     
17. Do you maintain any bank account? If so, with whom? Please furnish details of banking arrangement you are enjoying at present alongwith your application.
     
18. Before submitting your application, meet the Manager/Officer in Charge of the Branch, show him the application to examine whether it is in order and properly filled up. All the enclosures are attached and getting checked by the Manager and then submit the application.
     
19. If Manager of the Branch asks/advises you to submit some more information and documents, please furnish those at the earliest and co-operate with him to enable him to dispose off your application quickly.

Annexure—C

Check-list for Branch Managers- SSI Proposals

1. Please interview the applicant and keep record of your conversation with the applicant.
    
2. Please examine the application and see whether it contains all relevant information.
    
3. Please check the photocopies of various documents (enclosed with the application) with the original.
    
4. Please scrutinize the application properly.
    
5. Please make inspection of the Factory/Unit/Establishment (If existing one ) and in case of a proposed one, please inspect the site.
    
6. Please make local enquiries to verify the personal data furnished by the proprietor or Partners or Directors.
    
7. If the line of business (existing or proposed one) is new to you, please obtain brief particulars about the scheme or line of activity from DIC or SISI or NABARD or KVIC/KVIB and get yourself acquainted with that particular line of activity.
    
8. If you are unable to understand the working capital requirement assessment and corresponding bank borrowing requirement, consult Regional Office (either with concerned Dy. Regional Manager or with Regional Manager/Chief Regional Manager). However, in most of the cases, you should be able to assess these.
    
9. Properly analyse the previous Balance Sheets and Profit & Loss account Statements (in case of existing units) and projected plan vis-à-vis projected Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account statement. Compare the date with those of other similar units. You can take the help of DIC Office or SISI or NABARD or KVIC/KVIB.
    
10. Examine the market demand of the product/service and assess whether the projection made by the applicant is reasonable.
     
11. In suitable cases, where collateral/additional securities are required to be obtained, please verify those collaterals thoroughly.
     
12. In case of a company and if it is already running, conduct search with the officer of Registrar of Companies to ascertain whether the assets of the company are free from any encumbrance.
     
13. 13.If the Firm/Company is already enjoying term loan from any Financial Institution (like SFC or IDBI/SIDBI or IIBI or IDC etc.) or proposes to enjoy any loan from them, please contact them and ascertain the details from them about the scheme/project/plan/proposed borrower.
     
14. If the Firm/Company is already banking with any Bank, please contact the said Bank, and get detailed information relating to conduct of the a/c. and also try to gather impression of the said Bank about the proprietor or partners or directors as the case may be.
     
15. Please go through the checklist for the SSI entrepreneurs and see whether all the points have been covered in the application and whether photocopies of all relevant documents have been enclosed.
     
16. If you feel that (after interviewing the applicant) some more information and documents are necessary, please tell the applicant forthwith and give him specific time for furnishing those papers. Do not keep pending and try to dispose of the proposal within RBI stipulated time schedule unless delayed for specific reason. Do not harass the applicant and if you are satisfied, sanction the proposal (if it is under your discretion) and make arrangement for disbursement after complying with all formalities. If you are not satisfied, reject the proposal and after getting clearance from higher authorities, inform the applicant forthwith. If the proposal has been forwarded by any sponsoring agency (like DIC, KVIC/ KVIB/ NABARD, etc.), please also inform them about your decision.