Having been in business for more than a decade and a half, the travails and tribulations of being a woman entrepreneur in India have been like climbing mount Everest most often than not. Until now.
And how do I claim this? Through the two ‘AA ratings’ that are infallible hallmarks and the basis of our Culture – experience, anubhav and the subsequent realisation, anubhuti.
Even though I have been banking with the second largest private bank in the nation –HDFC, my recent interaction with them has been nothing less than horrific.
As the lockdown lifted and we all limped back to work metaphorically, the reality of having incurred huge losses hit me like a brick on the head! The shops we retailed in were shut, buyers cancelled purchase orders and unsold stock grew by the day. Chances of reviving manufacturing were slim as most migrant workers were still at home and the demand for garments too had plummeted. Handloom artisans that we had been supporting were looking at a bleak future. Staring rudely and unapologetically at me were the dreaded stacks of unpaid bills!
I was distraught. The funds were drying up fast and new streams of income were tough to find since this pandemic had really taken the steam out of the entire world!
Then came the by now frequent ‘address to the nation’ by Modi ji. Contrary to popular opinion, there was no special task planned for us this time, but it entailed an announcement that lifted the spirits of all. The generous Economic Stimulus Package of 20L Crores seemed like a lifeline for the dwindling economy. Hope raised her beautiful head.
Unfortunately for me, it appeared as a mirage…The Bank had mismanaged our account even though we had been associated with them since the long and things just came to a standstill. I was smarting under their excessively arrogant approach to my issues and concerns. The loan under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme seem to appear further than the Galaxy Andromeda!
My daily working became a nightmare. Hours at end were spent writing mails, requesting for clarity, escalating the matter, pleading with seniors for reviews and highlighting the urgency of the situation. Life became tough and somewhere anger was setting in.
Time passed by. The greater they negated the stronger became my resolve in ‘satyamev jayate.’ This was Naya Bharat, truth HAD to prevail.
Looking for a solution I started searching the web for places to lodge complaints — Banking Ombudsman, RBI and then finally an ‘angelic’ friend guided me towards the MSME Ministry.
I got the number of Mr. Santanu Mitra, ADC, and to my utter surprise and relief, he answered the call with promptness and magnanimity. I felt reassured. Soon enough his office reverted. Mr. Saurabh Arora gave me a sympathetic hearing and asked to file a complaint at the Champions Portal of the MSME Ministry. The ease of registering on it and filing the complaint was unbelievable!
To top it all, within hours, I got a call from Dr. K.K Goel, from DCDI requesting for details of Bank officials handling my case. By the end of the evening, a reply from the Portal had reassured me that I was in good hands. My eyes welled up with tears….
The complaint was registered on 19th August and with minimal follow up, by 21st August, the Bank had been hauled up and I received a well worded apologetic mail from them followed by the disbursement of the eagerly awaited loan! SATYAMEV JAYATE was vindicated.
As I called up to thank each one of the officials of the Ministry, their humility, concern and now joy in my happiness seemed almost other worldly… This Government was truly ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.’
The words of Mr. Mitra ring in my ears – ‘we are here to serve please call us any time you have a problem. Governments can be sensitive too….’ Golden words, that are genuine and alive. Meaningful Support to My Endeavour is the new meaning of MSME for me.
Finally, with all humility I state that Naya Bharat is truly awake and evolving. It is gracious and aware, sympathetic and sensitive and above all genuine and proactive.
Ms Anjali
Yours has been a very genuine case of an MSME facing financial difficulties due to COVID 19, and deserving to avail benefit of ECLGS. We at Ministry of MSME, Govt of India would like to thank you for providing us an opportunity to help you out.
After discussing with you, I contacted the bank officials in NCR and Mumbai to clarify few points on your behalf and requested to help you by expediting the process. Thanks to the patience listening and understanding the genuineness, the bankers responded promptly.
Shri Santanu Mitra sir and Shri Saurabh Arora from Central Control Room, have been very supportive throughout.
This way the very purpose of setting up of CHAMPIONS, the help desk of our ministry was achieved and we all, including you are happy.
In fact, many more MSMEs have been helped by us, but very often they get too busy to give their feedback. Thanks for acknowledging our efforts which enhances our motivation further.
Now, we expect that you will put your best to achieve much more success in your business.
Dr K K Goyal
MSME DI
New Delhi
Namaste! Sir….Very nice of you to read this post and reply. Your words of encouragement are precious and energising. We will put in our best efforts to better ourselves by the day.
Thankyou once again.
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