Incentives and Subsidies Available for Small Industry

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Incentives and Subsidies are motivational factors which induce a person to work hard or to do his work more efficiently.

Many incentives and Subsidies are provided with both by the Central and State Governments to pro­mote the growth of small-scale industries and also to protect them from the onslaught of the large-scale sector. Among the various incentives and Subsidies are given to small-scale industries the following deserve special mention:

  1. Reservation

To protect the small-scale industries from the competition posed by large-scale industries, the Government has reserved the production of certain items exclusively for the small-scale sector.

  1. Preference for Government purchases

The Govern­ment as well as Government organizations show a preference for procuring their requirements from the small-scale sector. For instance, the Director General of Supplies and Disposals purchases 400 items exclusively from the small-scale sector. The National Small-Scale Industries Corporation assists the SSI units in obtaining a greater share of Government and defence purchases.

  1. Price preference

The SSI units are given price preference up to a maximum of 15 per cent in respect of certain items purchased both from small-scale and large-scale units.

  1. Supply of raw materials

To ensure a regular supply of raw materials, imported components and equipment, the Government gives priority allocation to the small-scale sector as compared to the large-scale sector. Further, the Government has liberalized the import policy and streamlined the distribution of scarce raw materials.

  1. Excise duty

In respect of SSI units, excise duty concessions are granted to both registered and unregistered units on a graded scale depending upon their production value. Full exemption is granted up to a production value of Rs.30 lakhs in a year and 75 % of normal duty is levied for production value exceeding Rs.30 lakhs but not exceeding Rs.75 lakhs. If the production value exceeds Rs.75 lakhs, the normal rate of duty will be levied.

  1. RBI’s credit guarantee scheme

In 1960, the RBI introduced a Credit Guarantee Scheme for small-scale industries. As per the Scheme, the RBI takes upon itself the role of a guarantee organization for the advances which are left unpaid, including interest overdue and recoverable charges. This scheme covers not only working capital but also advances provided for the creation of fixed capital.

  1. Financial assistance

Small-scale industries are brought under the priority sector. As a result, financial assistance is provided to SSI units at concessional terms by commercial banks and other financial institutions. To provide more financial assistance to the small-scale sector, several schemes have been introduced in the recent past the Small Industries Development Fund (SIDF) in 1986, National Equity Fund (NEF) in 1987 and the Single Window Scheme (SWS) in 1988.

SIDF provides refinance assistance to the small-scale cottage and village industries and the tiny sector in rural areas. NEF provides equity-type support to small entrepreneurs for setting up new projects in the tiny/small-scale sector. In 1996, the small-scale sector received 42.3 per cent of the total priority sector advances from public sector banks.

  1. Technical consultancy services

The Small Industries Development Organization, through its network of services and branch institutes, provides technical consultancy services to SSI units. To provide the necessary technical input to rural industries, a Council for Advancement of Rural Technology was set up in October 1982.

The Technical Consultancy organization renders consultancy services to SSI units at a subsidised rate. Many financial institutions are also providing subsidies to SSI units for availing of consultancy serv­ices. For instance, small entrepreneurs proposing to set up the rural, cottage, tiny or small-scale units, can get consultancy services at a low cost from the Technical Consultancy Organizations approved by the All-India and State-level financial institutions.

They have to pay only 20% of the fees charged by a technical consultancy organization. The entire balance of 80% or Rs.5, 000 whichever is lower is subsidised by the Industrial Finance Corporation of India.

  1. Machinery-on a hire purchase basis

The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) arranges the supply of machinery on a hire-purchase basis to SSI units, including ancillaries located in backward areas which qualify for investment subsidies. The rate of interest charged in respect of technically qualified persons and entrepreneurs coming from backward areas is less than the amount charged to others. The earnest money payable by technically qualified persons and entrepreneurs from backward areas is 10% as against 15% in other cases.

  1. Transport subsidy

The Transport Subsidy Scheme, 1971 envisages the grant of a transport subsidy to small-scale units in selected areas to the extent of 75 % of the transport cost of raw materials which are brought into and finished goods which are taken out of the selected areas.

  1. Training facilities

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, financial institutions, commercial banks, technical consultancy organizations, and NSIC provide training to existing and potential entrepreneurs.

  1. Marketing assistance

The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) and the various Export Promotion Councils help SSI units in marketing their products in the domestic as well as foreign markets. The SIDO conducts training programmes on export marketing and organises meetings and seminars on export promotion.

  1. District Industries Centres (DICs)

The 1977 Industrial Policy Statement introduced the concept of DICs. Accordingly, a DIC is set up in each district. The DIC provides and arranges a package of assistance and facilities for credit guidance, supply of raw materials, marketing etc.

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