RBI asks banks to extend loans to women SHGs at 7% rate

Mumbai: The RBI Thursday asked banks to provide loans up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 percent interest rate to Women Self-Help Group (SHG) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) - Aajeevika scheme during 2015-16.

"All women SHGs will be eligible for interest subvention on credit up to Rs 3 lakhs at 7 percent per annum. SHG availing capital subsidy under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) in their existing credit outstanding will not be eligible for benefit under this scheme," the Reserve Bank said

in a notification.

The commercial banks and cooperative banks will lend to all the women SHGs in rural areas at the rate of 7 percent in the 150 districts, it said.

The revised guidelines on interest subvention scheme under NRLM has been issued after approval from the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

As per the guidelines, all banks will be subsidised to the extent of difference between the weighted average interest charged and 7 percent subject to the maximum limit of 5.5 percent for the year 2015-16.

Further, the SHGs will be provided with an additional 3 percent subvention on the prompt repayment of loans.

For category II districts, comprising of districts other than the above 150 districts, all women SHGs under NRLM will continue to be eligible for interest subvention to avail the loan facility at an interest rate of 7 percent.

The funding for this subvention will be provided to the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) from the allocation for NRLM.

"In the Category II districts, banks will charge the SHGs as per their respective lending norms and the difference between the lending rates and 7 percent subjected to a maximum limit of 5.5 percent for the 2015-16 will be subvented in the loan accounts of the SHGs by the SRLM," it said.