The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) is a flagship poverty alleviation initiative launched by the Government of India. Designed to empower marginalized communities, the scheme provides comprehensive support through self-help groups (SHGs), financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. This article covers key details about the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, its objectives, launch date, benefits, and eligibility. Additionally, it explores the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a significant component of DAY, with updated facts and figures.

What is Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana?

The Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) aims to improve the lives of urban poor by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development. Recognizing the importance of skilled labor for economic progress and in alignment with the Make in India initiative, the scheme focuses on enhancing socio-economic conditions. It operates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA), with the Government of India allocating ₹500 crore for its implementation.

This scheme brings together the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under a unified framework.

1. National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – Focused on rural development.
2. National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) – Addressing urban poverty and employment challenges.

The National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) was rebranded as Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – NULM (DAY-NULM) and is known in Hindi as Rashtriya Shahri Aajeevika Mission. It now extends coverage to all 4,041 statutory cities and towns, ensuring wider outreach across urban areas. Previously, urban poverty alleviation programs were limited to only 790 towns and cities.

Both schemes work towards enhancing the livelihoods of the underprivileged by facilitating access to credit, training, and market linkages.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Launch Date

The scheme was officially launched on September 25, 2014, marking the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, who advocated for the upliftment of the poorest sections of society. The government revamped earlier poverty alleviation programs to form DAY, making it more inclusive and sustainable.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Objectives

The Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability among urban poor households by providing access to self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. This initiative focuses on enhancing livelihoods sustainably by strengthening grassroots-level support.

Additionally, the mission seeks to provide shelter with essential services to urban homeless populations in a phased manner. It also addresses the livelihood challenges of urban street vendors by ensuring access to dedicated spaces, institutional credit, social security, and skill development programs, enabling them to tap into emerging market opportunities.

Deendayal Antodaya Yojana Other objectives

• Promote sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural and urban poor.
• Build capacity and provide skill training to beneficiaries.
• Encourage financial inclusion through self-help groups and bank linkages.
• Ensure social empowerment, especially for women.
• Facilitate access to markets for small and micro-enterprises.

Deendayal Antodaya Yojana Key Features

• Employment through Skill Training and Placement
  • ₹15,000 per person allocated for skill training of urban poor (₹18,000 for those in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir).
  • City Livelihood Centers established to provide market-oriented skills to meet urban job demands.
• Social Mobilization and Institution Development
  • Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to train and support members.
  • Each SHG receives ₹10,000 as initial support.
  • Registered Area Level Federations are provided ₹50,000 in financial assistance.
• Subsidy for Urban Poor
  • Interest subsidy of 5%–7% on loans for micro-enterprises.
  • Loans of up to ₹2 lakh for individual enterprises and ₹10 lakh for group enterprises.
• Shelters for Urban Homeless
  • Full funding for the construction of shelters under the scheme.
• Other Initiatives
  • Development of vendor markets.
  • Skill training programs for street vendors, rag pickers, and persons with disabilities.
  • Infrastructure development to support their livelihood activities.

National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) Scheme Details UPSC

Under DAY, NRLM serves as a comprehensive platform to transform rural livelihoods. Key features include:

1. Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs): As of March 2024, over 10 crore rural households have been mobilized into SHGs under DAY-NRLM, surpassing the government’s target 3.
2. Financial Support: SHGs receive revolving funds, bank loans, and interest subvention. The Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) has allocated Rs. 13.33 crore for FY 2024-25 to support rural enterprises 3.
3. Skill Development: Capacity-building programs equip SHG members with market-relevant skills. The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) focuses on empowering women in agriculture, with Rs. 15 crore allocated for FY 2024-25 3.
4. Livelihood Promotion: Support for traditional and non-traditional livelihood sectors such as agriculture, dairy, and handicrafts.
5. Financial Literacy: Women are trained to manage finances using digital payment systems.

Deendayal Antyodaya Core Principles UPSC

•       Empowering the Urban Poor – Recognizing that the urban poor have entrepreneurial potential and a strong drive to escape poverty. The focus is on unlocking their capabilities to create sustainable livelihoods.
•       Community-Driven Approach – Ensuring livelihood programs are led by the poor and their institutions, enabling them to build human, social, and financial assets. This strengthens their ability to access rights, services, and economic opportunities.
•       Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) – As per the 74th Constitutional Amendment (1992), ULBs are responsible for urban poverty alleviation. They play a leading role in skill development, employment programs, and support initiatives for the urban poor.
•       Comprehensive Coverage – Aiming for universal access to skill development and credit facilities, with a focus on market-based employment and self-employment opportunities.
•       Support for Street Vendors – Recognizing their economic importance, NULM facilitates access to workspaces, credit, social security, and skills training, helping them integrate into emerging market opportunities.
•       Shelter for the Homeless – Ensuring the gradual establishment of shelters with essential facilities for homeless individuals in urban areas.
•       Convergence with Other Programs – Aligning with government initiatives related to skills, entrepreneurship, health, education, and social welfare to ensure a comprehensive development approach. Special attention is given to rural-urban migrants to bridge livelihood gaps.
•       Partnerships with Private and Civil Society – Encouraging collaboration with businesses and non-profits to provide shelters, skill training, technology, marketing, and business support for urban entrepreneurs.

• Active Participation – Ensuring urban poor and their institutions take ownership and play a productive role in all processes.
• Transparency – Maintaining clarity in program design and execution, including institution-building and capacity development.
• Accountability – Holding government officials and the community responsible for effective implementation.
• Collaborations – Building partnerships with industry and other stakeholders to enhance impact.
• Self-Reliance – Encouraging community independence, self-help, and mutual support for long-term sustainability.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Benefits

The scheme offers numerous benefits to beneficiaries, including:

• Financial Empowerment: Access to institutional credit at subsidized interest rates.
• Entrepreneurial Support: Promotion of micro-enterprises through capacity building and financial assistance.
• Employment Generation: Livelihood diversification through skill development and self-employment.
• Market Linkages: Facilitates participation in trade fairs and buyer-seller meets.
• Women Empowerment: More than 90 lakh SHGs with over 10 crore women members have been formed under NRLM as of June 2024 8.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for beneficiaries differ for urban and rural areas:

NRLM Eligibility (Rural Areas):

• Rural households identified under the Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) method 6.
• Priority given to women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and vulnerable communities.

NULM Eligibility (Urban Areas):

• Urban poor, including street vendors, homeless individuals, and those below the poverty line.
• Special focus on empowering women, minorities, and differently-abled individuals.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Impact and Success Stories

Since its inception, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana has significantly impacted rural and urban livelihoods. Key achievements include:

• Andhra Pradesh alone mobilized 9,075,289 households under DAY-NRLM, exceeding its target 3.
• The Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme integrates DAY-NRLM to ensure 15% of welfare scheme benefits reach notified minorities 1.
• The Million Designers, Billion Dreams initiative (August 2024) under DAY-NRLM aims to equip rural entrepreneurs with advanced skills 8.

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to inclusive development. By empowering the marginalized through sustainable livelihood opportunities, it has uplifted millions of lives. As the scheme continues to grow, it is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of poverty eradication.

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