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(PIB Feature).
Inputs from the Ministry of MSME
The Government launched the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises in August, 2000 with the objective of making available credit to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) for loans up to Rs. 100 lakh without collateral/third party guarantees. First generation entrepreneurs in MSE sector find it difficult to access credit from the organized banking sector. The banks on their part are concerned about the likely defaults in small loans and hence try to collateralize their exposure to the small borrowers. Keeping this in mind, it was thought fit to create the instrument of Credit Guarantee to enhance the comfort level of the banks for financing loans, as well as a new gateway for MSE entrepreneurs to get funding without collateral security and/or third party guarantee. The scheme is being operated by the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) set up jointly by the Government and SIDBI.
The scheme covers collateral free credit facility (term loan and/ or working capital) extended by eligible lending institutions to new and existing micro and small enterprises up to Rs. 100 lakh per borrowing unit. The guarantee cover provided is up to 75% of the credit facility up to Rs.50 lakh with an incremental guarantee of 50% of the credit facility above Rs.50 lakh and up to Rs.100 lakh (85% for loans up to Rs. 5 lakh provided to micro enterprises, 80% for MSEs owned/ operated by women and all loans to NER). One time guarantee fee of 1.5% of the credit facility sanctioned (0.75% for NER including Sikkim) and Annual Service Fee of 0.75% is collected from Member Lending Institutions (MLIs). The corpus of CGTMSE is contributed by the Government and SIDBI in the ratio of 4:1. At present the corpus is around Rs.3300 crore which enables substantial enhancement in the credit flow to MSEs by leveraging it many times over.
A total of 125 Member Lending Institutions comprising of 26 Public Sector banks, 18 Private Sector Banks, 68 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), 4 foreign banks and 9 other Financial Institutions have been registered which allows a wide coverage across country.. CGTMSE has been recognised internationally and has been made a member of the Asian Credit Supplementation Institutions Confederation (ACSIC), which promotes sound development of the credit supplementation system for Micro and Small Enterprises in the countries of Asia through exchange of information, discussions and interchange of personnel among credit supplementation institutions. CGTMSE was chosen to host the 24th ACSIC Conference, a annual conference for Heads of Guarantee Organisations of Asian region for the first time in India during October-November, 2011.
The scheme has helped around 7 lakh entrepreneurs by providing guarantee & enabling them loans worth more than Rs. 31 thousand crore. Success stories abound, from a small taxi driver to steel equipment manufacturer. Some of these stories are narrated below.
Driving Life, Collateral Free
Ghanshyam Dubey, a taxi driver in Mumbai, tells us how easy his life has become, thanks to the CGTMSE. In the 30 years of his driving career, the past owner of six cars had to struggle to raise loans. Without collaterals he could not get a loan from a bank and would typically be forced to look at the unorganized sector for funding. This time, however, he approached an MLI of CGTMSE, which not only gave him the loan without collateral but also helped him with all the paper work. Ghanshyam says his loan was sanctioned in a record 3 days time. Talking about his experience, he says that while his colleagues had to wait for more than 20 days just to clear the paper-work, his taxi was at his front door in just 5 days. All he has to do now is pay his monthly installments through post dated cheques. With his current monthly income he can now provide quality education to his children and take care of their other needs without any hassle. The Trust has presented him with a better life.
Funding Modernization
Raju Mathews, a steel equipment manufacturer in Mumbai, was faced with the proposition of modernizing his machinery involving an investment close to Rs 70 lakh. Changing his decade old equipment was essential to make his upcoming delivery, which meant he was running against a deadline to raise funds. The entrepreneur of 14 years, Raju approached an MLI of CGTMSE for a loan after learning of a scheme for MSEs, which provided a subsidy. Raju was hoping for more than a subsidy in a tough market. Could someone help him with collateral? Fortunately, Raju’s requirement was eligible under CGTMSE scheme which gave him a credit guarantee cover. The whole sanctioning process was completed in time for his delivery. Raju’s company manufactures steel equipment and makes them available in the markets of Iran, Africa, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, apart from selling it in India. His enterprise now boasts of a turnover of around Rs. 4 crores during the first quarter of FY 2011 as against the turnover of Rs. 15.45 crores during the previous year. The company now has a manpower of around 25 employees.
Life Sciences Entrepreneur All Praise For Collateral-Free Loans
Nidhi Saxena’s dream of floating her own company bore fruit in 2005. After having served 15 years in the IT and the BPO industry, she was keen to become an entrepreneur. This had been her goal ever since she completed her MBA from the SP Jain College, Mumbai, in 2002. Sensing unlimited potential in the life sciences business, Nidhi took the plunge and started Karmic Life Sciences with a fund of Rs. 80,000 backed by an angel investment. Initial year’s success meant that Nidhi had to raise funds to grow her business but she had no collateral to raise loans from banks. Private equity funding was her first natural choice until her angel investor, Indian Internetwork, put her on to an MLI of CGTMSE for collateral free loans. After evaluating Nidhi’s requirements, the MLI recommended the CGTMSE scheme and explained to her how the Trust can help her not only in getting a collateral free loan but also get timely advisory assistance. Since the fund requirement was higher than what CGTMSE could cover, it was decided that a mix of loan and equity investment could be worked out under the small and medium enterprise promotion loan of the MLI. The only thing Nidhi had to assure was the promoter’s guarantee.
Moreover, CGTMSE scheme gave her business a clear window to pay back in easy quarterly installment, a real boon for a startup. Today, with about 45 professionals in its fold, Karmic Life Sciences is on the growth path. The company which is aiming at Rs. 8 crore turnover in 2011, has already got into the US market. The company has a 12,000-square feet facility in Mumbai. It is planning to go for full Gold Standard in terms of information security by September 2010. It also plans to set up a sales office in the US. Nidhi’s company is also working towards setting up a cancer hospital in India. Contented with the collateral-free loans availed by her, Nidhi now recommends the Trust to potential entrepreneurs.
CGS Puts Dattaray In Driver’s Seat
Dattaray Wedhikar’s career as an entrepreneur had begun when he set up a small scale unit called Bharti Industrial Corporation in Mumbai that manufactured components for sheet metal press. He was soon joined in the business by his son Sri Rajendra Wedhikar, who had just completed his Diploma in Engineering. Dattaray realized that Pune, which was then emerging as an industrial city, offered immense expansion potential for their business. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Bhosari, Pune, accommodated several industrial enterprises belonging to the MSME and large scale production sectors. Most of the MSMEs in the area were engaged in manufacturing automobile parts, components and small components as they fulfilled the role of OEM suppliers for large auto manufacturers based in India and overseas. Sensing an opportunity there, the Wedhikars relocated to Pune and set up a small unit in Bhosari in 1983 named Datsons Engineering Works, for supplying components mainly to TELCO. Dattaray raised the capital for this project by selling his modest flat in Mumbai and his meager savings. In its initial years, the unit struggled to provide adequate returns on the investment. It was crippled by poor infrastructure and the lack of a steady supply of raw materials, and their equipment that was unable to function at high capacities. Despite these problems, the unit was able to grow with the help of loans from a leading Public Sector Bank. The unit was aided in its growth momentum by the bank’s branch in Pune that provided four loans with collateral security in the unit’s initial years.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/credit-guarantee-fund-scheme-for-msme/

Alok Deshwal
(PIB Feature).
Deputy Director (Media & Communication)
As one of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world, India indeed has an incredible story to tell about its rich and glorious past.The treasures of its golden past are kept in its museums for the mankind to see, enjoy and cherish. There are over a thousand museums in India, both large and small. Over 90 percent of these are funded and maintained by the Central and State Governments and few renowned museums have also been set up through private efforts. The Archaeological Survey of India itself manages 44 site museums located near important historical sites, some of them in the remotest parts of the country like Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat and others at well-known World Heritage Sites such as Agra.
Some of the oldest museums were established by the British and their collections were a combination of natural history and antiquarian remains like the 197 year old Indian Museum, Kolkata (which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2014) Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.
Museums have always played an important role in our society by bringing us closer to our roots and making us aware of our glorious past. Museum visits as an integral part of school life were important events, which shaped our understanding of the growth of human life on earth.
It is in this context that Jay Winter, American Historian has said that, “Museums are, in a way, the cathedrals of the modern world, places where sacred issues are expressed and where people come to reflect on them. A museum is also a kind of bridge between the academy and the public.”
However, of late museums across the country have suffered a down-turn, both in terms of their working and their public image as they have not been able to keep pace with the international best practices in the field. There is a severe shortage of museum professionals in the country because of which the museum sector has suffered a setback. This is amply clear from the fact there is a high vacancy rate in almost all the National level museums in the country. Due to the unavailability of dedicated professionals many of the museums in the country today are in a state of neglect, being managed by staff with little or no knowledge or professionalism in their business.The need for modernization and up-gradation of museums in India has been felt and expressed for several decades. In the light of much needed reforms in the field the Ministry of Culture has proactively pursued a path of initiating museum reforms. After brainstorming with Museums Experts and Directors, The Museum Reforms Programme was instated by the Ministry of Culture, to address 14 key concerns in the Museum Sector. These concerns are:
Collection & Stores Management
· Introduce computer aided collections management.
· Verify physically stocks with registers/database.
· Modernize methods of storage and retrieval & introduce visible storage.
· Develop adequate storage facilities.
· Control/filter atmospheric heat, dust, humidity, light and pest in Stores.

· Take professional quality digital photos of stored items.
· Upload entire collections’ database with images of objects online.
Proper/Scientific Display of Artefacts

· Design and develop exhibit-specific display systems.
· Up-grade display techniques on professional lines.
· Introduce atmospheric control of heat/cold, humidity, dust, etc. in Galleries.
· Modernize lighting with power-saving/auto switch & heat control.
· Have variety in gallery presentations, with other ‘attractions’ interspersing.
· Circulate periodically displayed materials, from Store to Gallery.
Information, Signages, Floor Plans & Visitor Facilities

· Set up ‘Visitor Interpretation Centres’, & give different options to them.
· Improve Object Interpretation Board, communication strategies/narratives.
· Introduce Braille plaques for the visually impaired visitors.
· Arrange attractive videos and digital shows and hands-on activities.
· Put interactive strategies, touch screen kiosks, ‘sound posts’, etc.
· Print international-standard guide-books with floor plans/signages.
· Keep comfortable benches & resting places, and nooks/seating corners.
· Drinking water facilities and clean toilets with signages.
· Set up cafeterias, vending machines and spaces to interact.
· Have flexible and extended visiting hours, with some special ‘free days’.
· Engage enthusiastic volunteers as museum assistants, to guide visitors.
Museum Shops and Souvenirs

· Set up proper Museum/Souvenir Shops, preferably on PPP model
· Merchandise professional selected museum items, for souvenirs.
· Produce, with ‘class’, replicas, prints, postcards, albums etc.
· Publish world-class books & catalogues, through the best available.
· Arrange inter-museum & outsourced sale of books/catalogues & CDs.
· Promote/market India’s heritage as a brand, through all museum shops.
· Approach corporates to popularize museum culture through gifts.
Multi-Media, Audio Visual & Guide Facilities

· Design, and continuously update, website & information systems.
· Introduce museum related activity cum technical research blogs.
· Digitize important stored artefacts for ‘Virtual Guide’, CDs and Websites.
· Introduce / improve audio guides: work on time-bound plans.
· Set up LCD panels, to display digitized artefacts on videos and power points.
· Introduce 3-D holographic projections, simulated images & virtual reality.
· Set up interactive sound & talking trees, musical clocks & other attractions.
Attract Various Audience Segments, including Students/Children

· Plan the calendar of events for the entire year, and more, if possible.
· Send newsletters and keep updating mailing lists, through visitor registers.
· Arrange special training for Education Officers, PROs & ‘Guides’ for this work
· Plan ‘Out-reach’ programmes for different segments, target specific.
· Design invitation cards, brochures, fliers both artistically and professionally.
· Organize regular interactive programmes and set up ‘children’s corners’.
· Formalise networks with schools and colleges, on a regular basis.
· Introduce ‘Collections Identification & Authentication’ facility for collectors.
· Encourage small online exhibitions to be curated by museum enthusiasts.
Image Building, Publicity and Cultural Events.

· Have well dressed and polite museum assistants/guides & cafeteria staff.
· Plan campaigns, highlighting interesting facets & get feedbacks.
· Issue attractive advertisements and informed articles in the media.
· Set up and invigorate ‘Friends of Museum’ & also meet them.
· Celebrate regularly ‘World Days’, ‘State Functions’ and ‘Special Events’.
· Organize cultural performances and other outreach programmes.
· Harmonize tangible & intangible cultural heritage, seamlessly.
· Attract corporate sponsors with special exhibitions for their clients.
· Engage event-managers marketing/sales team & communication specialists,
Visiting & Travelling Exhibitions

· Invite exhibitions & inter-museum exchanges, including with ASI museums.
· Establish curator panels and plan multiple curatorial themes, in advance.
· Keep updating policies for exhibitions abroad, through regular feedbacks.
· Curate exhibitions abroad – have different policies for art & antiquities.
· Formulate scientific policies regarding valuation, insurance, etc. for exhibits.
· Plan exhibitions (both internal & external) professionally on global standards
· Insist on proper reciprocity from foreign museums/galleries.
· Publish world class catalogues for each exhibition in India or abroad.
Expansion & Acquisition of Collections

· Revisit art purchase procedures and committees, with transparency.
· Frame policies to encourage donors, i.e., tax exemption, publicity, etc.
· Devise ‘loan policies’ for short, medium & long term loans.
· Prepare policy on bequeaths & have proper screening/evaluation methods.
· Set up search committees and negotiating teams, to locate/buy rare items.
· Frame policies for de-accessioning of unwanted/unrelated collections.
Professional Development of Museum Personnel

· Organise HRD training & expose personnel to international standards.
· Encourage courses and exchanges of best practices, through visits.
· Facilitate studies, researches to bring out better publications.
· Utilize Visiting Fellows to unravel treasures within museums.
· Conduct professional courses in museum studies & collections management
· Start online/correspondence courses in museum studies & heritage management.
· Collaborate with Open Universities & conservation laboratories.
· Publicise available courses for wider dissemination, at nodal points.
· Devise administrative structure/emoluments for good career management
· Engage specialized professionals, on contract/tenure basis, for emulation.
Implementation of Plan Schemes & special projects

· Ensure optimum utilization of funds, through prior planning.
· Make monthly activity charts and conduct reviews /self-assessments.
· Outsource work to professional agencies, where required.
· Undertake long term planning, rather than adhoc improvements.
· If possible & permitted, create public private partnerships.
· Invite, with proper approval, specific projects from outside.
Security: Modern Techniques

· Upgrade security systems & install latest cameras/surveillance systems.
· Deploy CISF, armed police, except inside museum galleries.
· Retain own security, for gallery watch & other duties.
· Introduce aesthetically pleasing dress for in-house security personnel.
· Install fire-fighting devices/techniques and undertake regular trials.
· Revisit display storage plans on security /fire-fighting considerations.
· Maintain friendly, terror/stress free atmosphere in museum galleries.
Conservation and Restoration

· Set up or upgrade conservation laboratories and modeling workshops.
· Build capacities for in-house expertise for conservation and restoration.
· Upgrade regularly, conservation and restoration techniques, through training.
· Utilize domain-specific external expertise and learn latest technologies.
· Extend this domain knowledge to smaller museums.
· Outsource, where necessary, and imbibe newer techniques.
· Publish technical research & conservation treatment bulletins.
· Organise special workshops outside, for basic collections care.
Interactions with Academics, Archaeologists and Artists

· Institutionalize a proper network with different relevant domain experts.
· Organize cooperation with academics/experts through regular workshops.
· Encourage onsite exposure of museum personnel for experience.
· Encourage museum personnel to make presentations before academics.
· Strengthen networking through professional bodies like ICOM, MAI etc.

An MoU was signed in 2010 with British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and British Library, London and the Ministry of Culture (on

behalf of Indian Cultural Institutions) to strengthen and enhance friendly cultural relations and promote cultural cooperation and

exchange. The MoU offers an appropriate platform for collaboration and sharing of best practices in different areas of Museum

Management.

The Ministry has recently initiated the Leadership Training Programme for in-service museum professionals in India in collaboration with

the British Museum, London. This is the first Leadership Training being organized for museums in India. The Programme is being

coordinated by the National Culture Fund, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that facilitates public private partnerships

for the preservation of arts and heritage in India. The Training Programme will include intensive training sessions on Curation, Museum

Education, Design & Display, Scientific Storage, Conservation & Preservation, Museum Marketing, Outreach and Collection

Management. 20 museum professionals from 12 Indian museums will undergo this six month Leadership Training in Delhi, London and

Mumbai respectively. They will take part in three sessions of training which have been specially created to balance the theoretical with

the practical, building on participants existing skills and advising on museum best practice. The training has been carefully shaped to

ensure participants can immediately apply and share their knowledge and skills within their organisations. The first session was

commenced in Delhi in January 2012, the second in London will be in March, and the final session in Mumbai will be in May. This will

ensure the training has the highest possible impact and takes advantage of local conditions.

Museums are increasingly engaging personnel with a wide variety of skills to increase their profile and remain relevant to 21st century

audiences. While academic scholarship remains the bedrock of our organisations, it is increasingly acknowledged that this work benefits

from, and is enhanced by individuals with different specialisms. The range of practitioners involved in conducting the training programme

is broad. Among many others, sessions will be taught by specialists in strategic planning, project management, exhibition display,

education, communications, marketing, digital technology, conservation and security, drawing on their extensive first-hand experience of

working museum environments. This programme will generate museum leaders who will further train museum professionals all across the

country to create a rich web of world class museums in India.

As part of the training programme, Indian scholars will be given substantial access to the British Museum’s world collection and will be

encouraged to share their invaluable knowledge, particularly of the Indian collections. The exchange of knowledge between Indian and

British Museum scholars will be strongly encouraged and it is hoped will form a foundation for future collaboration in the areas of

research and publication as well.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/6060/