Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will soon be able to improve their product designs, as the government is all set to establish design clinics in major manufacturing clusters. The scheme is part of the 10-point agenda set for the MSME ministry by the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council.
?The expenditure finance committee has given its approval for the scheme last week. With the approval, we will be able to start the scheme soon to give the industry design advantage,? MSME secretary Dinesh Rai told FE. There are 2.6 crore MSMEs in the country, spread across more than 6,000 clusters.
The committee has approved an expenditure of Rs 73.58 crore in the first year of the scheme, which will be implemented in public-private partnership mode. Under the scheme, the government will create design clinics headquarter and regional centres to meet the design needs of MSMEs.
The MSME ministry has tied up with National Institute of Design for providing consultancy to the industry. ?The institute will adopt identified clusters in the country to provide consultation services. However, the programme needs the customary approval from the Cabinet, which is expected to take not more than 15 days,? Rai said.
The scheme will help the industry in better marketing of their products. ?MSMEs have been lacking on the design front for lack of skills and investments. With the allocation of finances for this scheme, we will have competitive designs for our products. This will also help in promoting our own brands and getting a better market,? Federation of Indian Small and Medium Enterprises? secretary general Anil Bhardwaj said.
In 2005-06 Budget, the government had announced national manufacturing competitiveness programme (NMCP), prepared by National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council. The programme contained 10 key points for improving the competitiveness of MSMEs, one of which was setting up design clinics.
Till now, the government has launched six schemes under NMCP, namely marketing assistance, entrepreneurial and management development, setting up of mini tool rooms, increasing awareness on intellectual property rights, application of lean manufacturing, and quality management. Schemes on energy efficiency, technology upgrade, and application of information and communication technology are either in the final stages of approval or under consultation.