Telangana’s MSME Sector Gets Digital Boost from CII’s Digital Saksham Project

Hyderabad, Telangana: September 18, 2024: The MSME sector in Telangana is leveraging the benefit of digital technologies with Confederation of Indian Industry’s innovative initiative Project Digital Saksham. The Project Digital Saksham in partnership with Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, is bridging the gap between digital tools and micro enterprises. The project has made significant strides in Telangana, successfully completing its mission in Hyderabad & Pochampally with an impressive outreach to 10,053 MSMEs, providing training to 2,132 businesses, and achieving an adoption rate of 1,654 enterprises.

Mr. M Ponnuswami, Co-Chairman, CII National MSME Council, commented on the program’s success: “The Digital Saksham initiative has been transformative for Telangana’s MSME sector. By equipping entrepreneurs with essential digital tools and skills, we’re fostering growth, sustainability, and global competitiveness. The program’s success in Hyderabad demonstrates the eagerness of local businesses to embrace digital transformation. To ensure maximum learning in Telangana, the content is being offered in Telugu thus eliminating many barriers which were restricting micro enterprises in updating to digital business practices. The same is being adopted across 13 states and 55 clusters where all the content is available in regional language and local trainers are hired to understand the depth of the problem micro-enterprises are witnessing. In Telangana, we’re focusing on enabling micro-enterprises to transition from physical to digital payments, assisting with Udyam portal registration, e-filing of taxes, website development, social media marketing and exploring digital trade opportunities.”

The impact of Digital Saksham in Telangana is evident through numerous success stories. Seetha Vaishnavi, from Pochampally, faced financial difficulties due to her father-in-law’s paralysis, requiring ₹7,500 monthly for treatment. She began weaving sarees to support her family but earned low profits due restricted market access and lack of digital knowledge. Through the Project Digital Saksham, Seetha received training on how she can showcase her product on digital commerce platforms. From creating an account, e-catalogue and how the products should be clicked and displayed on these websites, the training supported her to connect with the Pan India audience. Her income has since increased, and she now helps other weavers list their products online.

Another inspiring example is Mekal Mahesh, a 27-year-old auto garage worker in Hyderabad. Facing financial difficulties, Mahesh received digital training through the program. Considering the nature of work, it was difficult for Mekal to maintain an account of everyday payment and keep cash handy to return to customers. Through Project Digital Saksham Mekal learned about digital payments and established an online presence, leading to a 30-40% increase in his customer base and a 25-30% boost in monthly revenue. Online payments now constitute 50-60% of his total transactions, showcasing the program’s success in improving financial management and customer satisfaction.

As Telangana continues its industrial growth trajectory, CII’s Digital Saksham project stands as a catalyst, empowering entrepreneurs, preserving local heritage, and propelling the state toward a digitally driven, sustainable, and prosperous future. The project also serves as a crucial bridge, connecting micro enterprises with state schemes for MSMEs and encouraging registration on Udyam Portal and GeM platforms.