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Shriram Finance Launches Credit Program for MSMEs in Telangana's Tier-2 & Tier-3 Cities

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  Published in Business and Finance on Monday, November 24th 2025 at 4:30 GMT by The Hans India

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Shriram Finance Boosts Credit Access for MSMEs in Telangana’s Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 Markets

The small‑business ecosystem in Telangana—an emerging hub for manufacturing, services and agriculture—has long struggled with limited access to affordable finance. In a bid to close that gap, Shriram Finance, one of India’s leading non‑banking finance companies, has rolled out a new credit‑facilitation initiative aimed specifically at Micro‑, Small‑ and Medium‑Enterprise (MSME) owners in the state’s tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities. The move, announced in a recent piece on The Hans India, is part of the firm’s broader strategy to deepen penetration into underserved markets while leveraging technology to streamline operations.

Why the focus on tier‑2/3 towns?

The article begins by contextualising the need for targeted credit solutions. While Hyderabad, the state capital, boasts a robust financial ecosystem, many peripheral towns—such as Nalgonda, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad—still depend heavily on informal credit sources, often at exorbitant rates. Data from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) shows that MSMEs in tier‑2 and tier‑3 zones contribute significantly to employment but are constrained by the high cost of capital. Shriram Finance’s decision to channel funds to these areas is therefore both a market opportunity and a socio‑economic imperative.

The initiative in a nutshell

Shriram Finance’s program, referred to in the article as the “Tier‑2 & Tier‑3 MSME Credit Access Programme,” is structured around a few key pillars:

1. Dedicated Credit Lines
   Each MSME is eligible for a credit line ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore, depending on its turnover, asset base and creditworthiness. The firm has earmarked an initial fund pool of ₹500 crore to cover the first 12 months of disbursements.

2. Digital Onboarding & Servicing
   In partnership with its internal digital platform, the finance company offers a fully online application process that can be completed in under 30 minutes. Post‑approval, the entire servicing—from repayments to account‑maintenance—runs through the Shriram Digital App, minimizing the need for physical branch visits.

3. Flexible Repayment Schedules
   Recognising the seasonal nature of many MSME businesses (e.g., agro‑based firms), the programme provides flexible repayment terms up to 60 months, with the option for periodic rescheduling in case of cash‑flow stress.

4. Risk‑Sharing Mechanisms
   To mitigate the higher default risk associated with smaller enterprises, Shriram Finance is exploring a blended financing model that pairs its capital with state‑run guarantee schemes, such as the “MSME Credit Guarantee Fund” administered by the Telangana State Financial Services Department.

5. Capacity‑Building Support
   Beyond just money, the finance company has launched a “SME Growth Hub” in Hyderabad that offers training workshops, business planning assistance and marketing support to borrowers, ensuring they can use the funds effectively.

Partnerships that enable the push

A recurring theme in the article is the importance of collaboration. Shriram Finance has teamed up with the following key partners:

• State Development Banks: The Telangana State Financial Services Department (TSFSD) is working closely with Shriram to identify high‑potential MSMEs and to streamline the credit‑guarantee process. TSFSD’s “E‑Sanjeevani” portal, which hosts a database of state‑registered enterprises, serves as the primary screening tool.

• Technology Providers: The firm has signed an agreement with Paytm and Razorpay to integrate payment‑gateway services into its platform, allowing MSMEs to make real‑time repayments directly from their POS devices.

• Industry Associations: By partnering with the Telangana Small Industries & Micro‑Enterprises Association (TSIM), Shriram Finance taps into a trusted network of local business owners, which aids in outreach and credibility building.

Real‑world Impact: Early Feedback

The article quotes a few pilot MSMEs that have already benefited from the programme. For instance, Sanket Textiles in Karimnagar secured a ₹3 crore line that helped them purchase new looms and hire additional staff, leading to a 25 % increase in annual turnover. Similarly, Bharath Agro Supplies in Nizamabad leveraged the credit to expand its product range, which in turn boosted its customer base by 40 %.

Shriram Finance’s chief operating officer, Arjun Narayanan, noted that “while our traditional branches serve larger corporates, the digital-first approach has unlocked a new segment that was previously unreachable. The success stories in tier‑2 towns underline the viability of this model.”

Regulatory and Macro‑Economic Context

The article also highlights the broader macro‑economic backdrop. The Indian government’s “Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs” (CGSM) offers a 50 % guarantee to lenders, and Shriram Finance is aligning its credit policies to fully leverage this benefit. Furthermore, the recent RBI directive encouraging “financial inclusion for MSMEs” mandates banks and NBFCs to adopt digital-first processes—a shift that Shriram Finance has already embraced.

Looking Ahead: Expansion Plans

According to Shriram Finance’s senior vice‑president, the company intends to scale the programme to cover 5,000 MSMEs by the end of FY 2025‑26. Expansion will involve deeper penetration into smaller towns such as Mancherial and Kamareddy, as well as the introduction of a “micro‑credit” product with interest rates as low as 14 % per annum for cash‑flow‑tight enterprises.

Takeaway

In summary, the article paints a comprehensive picture of Shriram Finance’s targeted credit‑access initiative for MSMEs in Telangana’s tier‑2 and tier‑3 markets. By combining sizable credit lines, a fully digital servicing model, flexible repayment terms, and robust partnership ecosystems, Shriram Finance is not only filling a financing void but also contributing to job creation and economic resilience in the state’s peripheral economies. The early success stories suggest that the model could serve as a blueprint for similar programmes across India’s diverse MSME landscape.