Small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturers have kept their eyes open for industrial designs that are cost-effective, energy-friendly, sleek and portable, under the Design Clinic Scheme — a government design and arts intervention project. The scheme was launched last year by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Ministry with the help of the National Institute of Design (NID). Studies by the government cite that the small scale sector contributes about 45 per cent of India’s total manufactured output and close to 40 per cent of the country’s exports. It provides employment to around 60 million people through 26 million enterprises and contributes to about eight per cent of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The total scheme, which offers subsidy to beneficiary companies, is projected to be around Rs.73.58 crore. The government supports the scheme with Rs 49.08 crore while the rest is funded by the companies. Four design clinics present in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Guwahati, are serving as nodal centres to help industries in remote regions. A select group of designers and design firms, enrolled under the scheme, lend their expertise to companies to promote design as a value-added activity. They aim to integrate the result derived into the mainstream business and industrial processes of MSMEs.
