New Delhi, June 13 (KNN) The Ministry of MSME held a review meeting on Digital MSME scheme to discuss progress of various activities involved in launching of Digital MSME scheme. During the meeting it was decided that the request by MSME to avail benefits under scheme should be Aadhaar linked and subsidy will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) route.

The meeting conducted last week was chaired by AC&DC MSME SN Tripathi.

The Ministry of MSME recently released the guidelines for the “Digital MSME" Scheme for promotion of Information & Communication Technology in MSME Sector.

The Government has decided to implement "Digital MSME" Scheme for promotion of Information & Communication Technology in MSME Sector with a total budget of Rs. 85.705 Crore including Government of India’s contribution of Rs. 58.105 crore during 2017- 18 to 2019-20.

The scheme envisages promotion of ICT applications to make them "Digital" by adopting new approach of Cloud Computing with the objectives to sensitize and encourage MSMEs towards new approach ie., Cloud Computing for ICT adoption in their production and business processes with a view to improve their competitiveness in National and International Market; Adoption of best practices to improve quality of products and services; and To benefit large number of MSMEs in terms of standardizing their business processes, improvement in productivity through Cloud Computing by reducing the burden of investment on Hardware, Software and Infrastructural Activities using Cloud Platform.

During the meeting, various issues were deliberated upon.

Regarding launch of services on NIC server through MSME portal initially, it was decided that to begin with, a web page for this purpose should be designed immediately jointly by TCIL and NIC.

The page should contain icons showing scheme guidelines, registration process, relevant information on Digital MSME, videos etc. It should be as informative as possible. The page should be designed on the lines of the page for students applying any training programmes in various Technology Centres of % DC (MSME).

The page should show 4 boxes, one each for total number of MSMEs applied for services, number of MSMEs whose request admitted & endorsed by TCIL, number of MSMEs using the services and number of MSMEs that fully availed the services and hence were eligible for subsidy.

“The request by MSME should be Aadhaar linked and subsidy will be disbursed through DBT route,” said the Minutes of Meeting.

Unit applying for services through this MSME page will be routed to TCIL as well as service provider portal and will make necessary payments through payment gateways after selecting the desired service.

It was discussed that the rates of services by various service providers should be highlighted under categories like market rate, special price to MSMEs and under subsidy category separately so that the customer may get an idea of economy of services being offered under the scheme.

Further, the services under all verticals - ERP, Accounts, Design, Regulatory Compliances etc should be classified in 3 categories namely Basic, Standard & Premium depending upon the modules covered in respective vertical. (KNN Bureau)