Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched a credit program for small scale entrepreneurs to set-up and upscale PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJAK) on Tuesday. Under the program, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will provide low-interest loans to the entrepreneurs without any physical guarantee. Addressing the gathering on the occasion in New Delhi, Dr Mandaviya said, the no-interest feature of the program will help small scale entrepreneurs to expand, upscale and upgrade their Janaushadhi Kendras. He added that the loan credit upto 4 lakh rupees will be provided under the program. The Minister highlighted that the move will be pivotal to realizing the government’s target of operationalizing 25,000 Janaushadhi Kendras and help boost employment. He mentioned that the government will further bring such schemes to expand the coverage of such Kendras to provide quality and affordable medicines to more and more people.

SIDBI said. the loan will be issued online and potentially within 10 minutes of filing the loan application. It added that the borrower will only need to input details such as their GSTIN and mobile number, to obtain the terms of the loan.