New Delhi, October 14: The Finance Ministry on Monday said loans worth Rs 81,781 crore were disbursed during the nine-day outreach programme or loan mela organised by banks that began on October 1. Finance Secretary Rajeev Kumar said "Rs 81,781 crore was disbursed in the outreach programme. Of these, new loans accounted for Rs 34,342 crore." PMC Bank Fraud: Suspended MD Joy Thomas Became Junaid Khan as He Converted to Islam to Marry His PA, Co-Owns 10 Properties With Second Wife.

Further, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the banks have sufficient liquidity, and efforts are being made to ensure that due payments are released to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector by large corporates.

In order to ensure liquidity for small businesses, Sitharaman said that banks have been asked to provide bill discounting facility to the MSME sector against payments due from the large corporates. PMC Bank Crisis: Joy Thomas, Suspended Bank Chief, Admits to Have Hid Info About Stressed HDIL Accounts From RBI.

According to returns filed by the large corporates to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, as much as Rs 40,000 crore is due to the MSME sector, she said adding that all efforts would be made to ensure that MSMEs get their dues ahead of Diwali. India celebrates the festival of light on October 27.