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.
