Question : Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Women

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry has conducted any assessment or received any reports or held consultations with stakeholders regarding the financial impact of COVID-19 on women entrepreneurs and MSMEs run by women SHGs and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Ministry has conducted any assessment or received any reports or held consultations with stakeholders regarding the disbursement or utilisation of stimulus packages and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of stimulus schemes availed by women entrepreneurs and SHGs item-wise, State-wise and year-wise; and
(d) the total number of women beneficiaries of schemes announced by the Union Government in the wake of COVID-19, State-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): The Government has taken several initiatives to support and protect the interest of women entrepreneurs and MSME through stimulus given under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Packages to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The packages comprise of schemes having impact across various sectors of the economy. The review of the progress made in implementation of the stimulus package announced under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Packages is done regularly. The specific initiatives taken to protect women entrepreneurs and MSMEs during covid-19 are as under:

1. Rs. 3 lakh crore Emergency Working Capital Facility for Businesses, including MSMEs.
2. Rs. 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs.
3. Rs. 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds.
4. New Definition of MSME and other Measures for MSME.
5. Rs. 10,000 crore scheme for formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE)
6. Relief of Rs. 1500 crore to MUDRA loanees.
7. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs, businesses, MUDRA borrowers and individuals.
8. Rs. 5000 crore Credit facility for Street Vendors.
9. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, a total of 20.40 crores (approx) women account holders ( Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna) were given an ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month for three months.
10. For Self-Help groups(SHGs), limit of collateral free lending was increased from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs for women organized through 63 lakh Self Help Groups , who supported 6.85 crore households.

The Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package is reviewed and monitored by Ministry of Finance. The assessment or consultations with stakeholders regarding the financial impact of COVID-19 on women entrepreneurs and MSMEs run by women SHGs are the mandated functions of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Rural Development.


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