Indian MSMEs, would get the much needed push with the operation of four Design Clinic Centres (DCCs), that are part and parcel of the Design Clinic Scheme of Government of India. The four DCCs are headquartered in Delhi with the Delhi, Ahmadabad and Bangalore Centers already operational. The Kolkata Centre for the eastern zone is yet to start. There can also be a fifth centre at Bhopal.

The idea of Design Clinic Scheme (DCS) was conceived 15 years ago at the National Institute of Design (NID). Though it was lagging initially but three years ago it has been approved and the MSME ministry allocated funds. In February 2007, the National Design Policy was framed that entails “creation of awareness among manufacturers and service providers, particularly SMEs and cottage industries, about the competitive advantage of original designs.”

The DCS will function in collaboration with NID and provide expert advice to solve existing design related problems. This will help add value to products, improve quality, cut costs and add more ‘value to money’. With a budgetary support of Rs 73.58 crore, the project envisages to make interventions and improve the existing MSME product designs. This has become very urgent keeping in view the competition that India faces from Chinese products that are better designed and packaged. As Vyas of NID, says, “it is also aimed at fending off competition from the Chinese and fighting them at their own game in the global marketplace with better designs.”

Currently more than 200 sectors are being identified that are in need of design intervention. Orientation programmes including three-day workshops, design audits shall be conducted under the scheme.