Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches Credit Assistance Program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, spearheaded the inauguration of a credit assistance program aimed at bolstering Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India. The program, initiated through a collaboration between SIDBI and PMBI, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and affordability of medicines, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sanjeevani’ for the underprivileged.

Key Highlights:

Expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendra Network:

• Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the substantial growth of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, from a mere 80 units in 2014 to approximately 11,000 operational units nationwide today.
• These Kendras, referred to as ‘Sanjeevani’ for the poor by Prime Minister Modi, serve as vital healthcare lifelines for both rural and urban populations.

Financial Assistance and Entrepreneurship Promotion:

• Minister Mandaviya praised the Union Government’s efforts in providing financial assistance to individual operators, particularly in remote areas, to promote entrepreneurship and enhance access to affordable healthcare.
• The credit assistance program, facilitated through an MoU between SIDBI and PMBI, aims to provide project loans for Jan Aushadhi Kendra operators up to Rs 2 lakhs at competitive interest rates.

Collaboration Between SIDBI and PMBI:

• The MoU between SIDBI and PMBI was hailed as a significant step towards fortifying and modernizing the Jan Aushadhi Kendra network.
• This collaboration aims to amplify the Kendra network’s reach and impact, particularly benefiting small and new entrepreneurs associated with these centers.

Government’s Objective and Program Details:

• The initiative aligns with the government’s broader objective of promoting ease of doing business and leveraging digital infrastructure for economic empowerment.
• The credit assistance program, relying on GST and India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), offers unsecured working capital loans for small businesses, addressing their financing needs and ensuring sustainability and growth.