Surat tops race to be aatmanirbhar; takes Rs 444 cr govt loans

State govt had offered low-interest loans to help small businesses tide over losses due to Covid crisis

By Gaurav Khara

When the State government extended financial support to businesses struggling with losses due to the lockdown and help people become 'aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant), it was Surat that had the maximum number of beneficiaries of cheaper loans uder the scheme.

Since the launch of the scheme, a total of 39,128 beneficiaries have availed loans to the tune of Rs 444 crore till now under the government schemes from various banks. Surat is followed by Ahmedabad and then Rajkot.

Businesses had suffered massive losses during lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic since March. To help them pick up in the Unlock phases, the government had announced a slew of packages.

Besides Rs 2.5 lakh loan to small and medium enterprises, the government also offered Rs 1 lakh loan to individuals at 4% interest. Of the total 6% annual interest, 2% would be paid by the government and 4% by the individual. Many people availed the loan.

Surat has seen the highest number of beneficiaries of the aatma nirbhar loan schemes.

As many as 42,822 applications were made in the district, of which 39,128 have received loans to the tune of Rs 444.82 crore.

Giving the details, Surat district registrar Vipul Mehta said, "The State government had launched the scheme to help small businessmen and workers get back in business as soon as possible. No instalment is to be paid in the first six months after disbursement of the loan. The repayment will begin after that."



5 districts with max loan disbursement
Name : Total loan
Surat : Rs 444.82 cr
Ahmedabad : Rs 444.63 cr
Rajkot : Rs 323.84 cr
Mehsana : Rs 189.41cr
G’nagar : Rs 61.29 cr