Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan

The Department of Social Justice & Special Assistance, Government of Maharashtra, runs this term loan route for entrepreneurs from the Charmakar community, with financial backing from the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC). It reaches households facing economic disadvantage — the Dhor, Chambhar, Holar, Mochi and allied groups — and is built around three goals at once: educational progress, economic progress and social standing.

The money is directed into micro-enterprises, above all those that make footwear or work with leather goods. Such a unit can take government department orders or sell through open-market channels. A term loan sits at the core of the package, supported by a seed loan and a small subsidy, so an owner does not have to arrange the entire project cost alone.

There is no fixed closing date — applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The entry point for anyone interested is the district office of the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Maharashtra (LIDCOM).

• Term loans of ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,50,000 for Charmakar community businesses
• ₹10,000 subsidy plus 75% project financing and a 20% Seed Loan
• Open to Maharashtra residents aged 18–50 from the Charmakar community
• 7% per annum interest on loans up to ₹5,00,000; 8% per annum above it
• Rolling applications submitted through the LIDCOM district office
• Funds footwear and leather goods micro-enterprises

Eligibility rests on three things: where you live, which community you belong to, and how old you are. You must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra and a member of the Charmakar community, which covers Dhor, Chambhar, Holar, Mochi and related groups. The age band is 18 to 50 years.

Income thresholds apply, and they differ by component:

• For the 50% Subsidy Scheme and Margin Money, annual household income must be below the poverty line.
• Under the NSFDC scheme, annual income must stay under ₹98,000 in rural areas and under ₹1,20,000 in urban areas.

Two certificates are compulsory — an Income Certificate and a Caste Certificate, both issued by an authorised government officer. Applicants should also already know the business or trade they are borrowing for, since the loan is tied to a specific enterprise.

Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Support arrives as a term loan rather than equity, and the exact figure depends on the scheme chosen:

• Term loan of ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,50,000, with separate limits available for vehicle loans.
• 75% of the project cost financed by NSFDC, plus 20% as a Seed Loan.
• A ₹10,000 subsidy built into the package.
• The beneficiary contributes the remaining 5% of the project cost.

Interest is charged at 7% per annum on loans of up to ₹5,00,000, rising to 8% per annum on amounts above that. The corporation additionally charges 4% per annum. Repayment is monthly, spread across a maximum of 60 months.

The loan is meant for enterprises producing footwear and leather goods, whether the goods go into government department orders or into open-market sales. Because this is a debt product, the borrowed amount is returned with interest and no ownership stake in the business is given away.

Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan is offered by National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), a government body. As a government-backed debt / loan, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

No separate screening or interview stage is described for this scheme. What is documented is an offline application route that starts at the district level:

• Visit the LIDCOM district office: Collect a hard copy of the prescribed application form from the concerned authority during office hours. This is also where local requirements are explained.
• Complete the form: Fill in every mandatory field accurately, affix a passport-sized photograph (signed across it if asked), and attach self-attested copies of the required documents — income certificate, caste certificate and proof of residence. Keep all information consistent and verifiable.
• Submit the application: Hand over the signed form with the complete document set to the concerned authority at the LIDCOM district office, within any period the scheme prescribes.
• Collect the acknowledgement: Ask for a receipt confirming submission. Check that it carries the date and time of submission, and a unique identification number if one is issued, so the application can be tracked later.

Before you apply to Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Term Loan Scheme for Charmakar Community — ₹1L–₹2.5L NSFDC Loan is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1L – ₹2.5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.