The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday directed public sector banks to provide credit to women self-help groups at the rate of 7 per cent per annum so as to get the benefit of interest subvention scheme under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana-Aajeevika (SGSY) scheme.

"PSBs will be subvented to the extent of difference between the Weighted Average Interest charged and 7 per cent subject to the maximum limit of 5.5 per cent, for the FY-2014," the apex bank said in a notification.

"This subvention will be available to all the PSBs on the condition that they make SHG (self-help group) credit available at 7 per cent in the 150 districts."

Likewise, regional rural banks (RRBs) will be subvented to the extent of difference between the lending rates and 7 per cent for the FY-2014 on the condition they make SHG credit available at 7 per cent, it added.

The SGSY scheme comes under the Ministry of Rural Development which launched National Rural Livelihood Mission on April 1, 2013 to reduce poverty by building strong institutions of the poor, particularly women.

It aims to enable these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods services.

The RBI further said that SHGs will be given an additional 3 per cent subvention on prompt repayment of loan.

For all loans up to Rs. 3 lakh, sanctioned to women SHGs on or after December 1, 2013, banks must charge an interest rate of 7 per cent.

However, for loans extended between April 1, 2013 and November 30, 2013, banks should convert the rate of interest to 7 per cent for all the existing loan accounts of the SHGs with effect from April 1, 2013.

Banks should submit their claims on a half-yearly basis as at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2014, the RBI said.

While for additional subvention of 3 per cent, banks may submit one-time consolidated claims during the entire year 2013-14 latest by April 30, 2014.

The RBI further said that the limit of subvention for the next financial year will be communicated separately.(NDTV Profit)