Over 5,710 Loans Sanctioned in Punjab Under Stand-up India Scheme, nearly 25 % of These Loans Given to SC/ST Entrepreneurs, says MP Satnam Singh Sandhu
MP Satnam Singh Sandhu Takes Up Issue of Loans for SC/STs in Punjab Under Stand-Up India Scheme in Parliament
Union Govt’s Scheme Provides 85% Guarantee Coverage & 10% Concession in Guarantee Fees for MSEs led by SC/ST Entrepreneurs: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje
Over 6.35 Lakh Participants Attended 37,528 Outdoor Camps Organised for Financial Literacy Awareness Camps in Punjab’s Rural Districts: MoS MEME, Shobha Karandlaje
“The Union government sanctioned 1,418 loans to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) beneficiaries in Punjab during four years between 2021-22 and 2024-25 under the Stand-Up India scheme launched in April 2016 to facilitate loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore from Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to at least one SC/ST borrower and one-woman borrower per bank branch for setting up green-field enterprise in manufacturing, services or trading sector, including activities allied to agriculture,” Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shobha Karandlaje, informed Parliament in reply to a question asked by Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu during the on-going Monsoon Session of the House.
In his question, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu had asked Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises about year-wise number of SC/ST beneficiaries in Punjab under the Stand-Up India scheme since 2021. He also asked about the total amount of loans disbursed to SC/ST women entrepreneurs in the state during the current fiscal year, the steps taken to organize awareness camps in rural districts and measures taken to facilitate collateral-free loans for SC/ST startups.
Responding to MP Sandhu’s question in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje in a written reply said 1418 SC/ST beneficiaries have been sanctioned loans under the Stand-Up India scheme in Punjab in the four years between 2021-22 and 2024-25. Sharing year-wise details of number of SC/ST beneficiaries under the scheme in Punjab, the Union Minister said 153 loans were sanctioned to 153 SC/ST entrepreneurs 2021-22, 321 in 2022-23, 327 in 2023-24 and 617 SC/ST beneficiaries in 2024-25. The minister said the Stand-up India scheme was operational till March 2025.
On the steps taken to organize awareness camps in rural districts, Union Minister Karandlaje said awareness camps for general financial literacy are being organised in Punjab through Financial Literacy Centers (FLCs), Center for Financial Literacy (CFL) and bank branches in the rural districts of the state.
“There are 3498 rural branches, 47 FLCs and 51 CFL working in Punjab as on 31 March 2026. A total of 37,528 outdoor camps were organized during FY 2025-26 which were attended by 6,35,922 participants,” she said.
The Minister said Union Government has taken a number of measures to facilitate collateral-free loans for SC/ST startups. “Startup India initiative was launched in January 2016, with intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the Startup ecosystem of the country. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) is implemented for enabling credit access through debt funding to startups through eligible financial institutions by guaranteeing upto a specified limit against credit instruments,” she said.
Karandlaje said the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) implements Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for Micro Small Enterprises (MSEs) through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to provide credit guarantees for the credit facilities extended to MSEs, including SC/ST Startups, without collateral security or third-party guarantee. “There is a provision of enhanced guarantee coverage upto 85% and 10% concession in guarantee fees for MSEs led by SC/ST entrepreneurs. Further, banks are being sensitised through various meetings conducted by SLBC to facilitate collateral free loans for SC/ST startups,” she added.
Lauding the success of Stand up India Scheme, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Stand-up India scheme has ‘funded the unfunded’ by ensuring availability loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. This scheme was launched in 2016 by recognising the challenges that energetic, enthusiastic, and aspiring SC, ST and women entrepreneurs face in converting their dream to reality. This Scheme has been instrumental in improving the standards of living for entrepreneurs, their employees and their families as over 1.59 lakh loans of more than Rs 40,927.53 Crore have been sanctioned to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs across the country under Stand Up India Scheme since April, 2020. Over 5,710 loans have been extended in Punjab under this scheme which has given entrepreneurs the required support for setting up greenfield enterprises in the trading, manufacturing, services sectors and activities allied to agriculture. As 1,418 of these loans were sanctioned to SC/ST entrepreneurs in Punjab, which is about 25 % of total loans sanctioned in the state, Stand-up India Scheme has touched numerous lives by ensuring access to hassle-free affordable credit to the unserved or underserved segment of entrepreneurs. This scheme has provided wings to aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their entrepreneurial acumen and the potential as drivers of economic growth and job creation. Apart from linking prospective borrowers to banks for loans, the scheme has also provided guidance to prospective entrepreneurs in their endeavour to set up business enterprises,”.
Author: Public Updates 24
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