The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is a flagship program by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households. This piece provides an overview of the mission, its guiding principles, and key strategies for empowering urban communities.
Mission and Core Beliefs
The core mission of DAY-NULM is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by enabling them to access self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. The mission is based on the core belief that the urban poor are entrepreneurial and have innate capabilities to overcome poverty. It emphasizes empowering the poor through strong grassroots institutions and providing access to essential services.
Guiding Principles of DAY-NULM
The DAY-NULM is guided by the following principles:
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Innate Capabilities: The poor have an inherent desire to come out of poverty.
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Institutional Support: Strong institutions of the poor are essential for their empowerment.
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Holistic Approach: The scheme aims to address various aspects of urban poverty, including social, economic, and occupational vulnerabilities.
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Convergence: Emphasis on convergence with other government programs.
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Partnerships: Collaboration with private sector and other stakeholders.
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Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring transparency and accountability in all processes.
Key Strategies of DAY-NULM
The DAY-NULM adopts the following key strategies:
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Capacity Building: Building the capacity of the urban poor and their institutions.
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Livelihood Enhancement: Enhancing and expanding existing livelihood options.
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Skill Development: Providing training to enable access to market-based job opportunities.
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Micro-Enterprise Support: Training and support for the establishment of micro-enterprises.
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Addressing Homelessness: Providing shelter and essential services to the urban homeless.
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Support to Street Vendors: Facilitating access to suitable spaces, credit, and social security for street vendors.
Key Components of DAY-NULM
The DAY-NULM has several key components:
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Social Mobilisation and Institution Development (SM&ID):
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Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations.
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Focus on vulnerable sections of the urban population.
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Provision of financial assistance for SHG formation and capacity building.
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Universal Financial Inclusion:
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Providing access to financial literacy, credit, insurance, and remittance facilities.
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Coordination with financial institutions to encourage the use of technology.
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Employment through Skills Training and Placement (EST&P):
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Providing assistance for skill development and upgrading.
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Focusing on self-employment and salaried employment.
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Prioritizing women, SCs, STs, and minorities.
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Self-Employment Programme (SEP):
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Providing financial assistance to individuals and groups for setting up micro-enterprises.
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Focus on marketability and credit linkages.
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Support to Urban Street Vendors (SUSV):
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Providing support for micro-enterprise development of street vendors.
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Facilitating access to credit and social security.
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Promoting digital payments.
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Scheme of Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH):
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Providing shelters and essential services to the urban homeless.
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Ensuring access to food, healthcare, and education.
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Funding Pattern and Financial Process
The funding of the Mission is shared between the Centre and States/UTs. The sharing pattern is as follows:
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North Eastern States and Himalayan States: 90:10 (Centre:State).
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Other States: 60:40 (Centre:State).
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UTs without Legislature: 100% Central funding.
The central share is released to States/UTs in installments, linked to physical and financial progress.
Amendments to Operational Guidelines
Several amendments have been made to the operational guidelines of DAY-NULM over time. Some of the key amendments include:
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Changes to the membership criteria for SHGs, allowing for smaller groups in specific areas.
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Inclusion of Small Finance Banks in the credit linkage program.
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Changes to the eligibility criteria for group enterprises.
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Introduction of a collateral guarantee for bank loans.
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Inclusion of direct benefit transfer for interest subsidy.
Implementation and Monitoring
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The mission is implemented through a three-tier structure: National, State, and City levels.
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The National Mission Management Unit (NMMU) at the central level provides overall guidance.
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State Mission Management Units (SMMUs) oversee implementation at the state level.
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City Mission Management Units (CMMUs) manage the program at the city level.
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The scheme is monitored through regular reporting and evaluation.
Conclusion
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is a comprehensive program that addresses the multifaceted challenges of urban poverty. By focusing on social mobilization, skill development, and access to financial resources, the scheme aims to empower the urban poor and enable them to lead dignified and sustainable lives. The mission’s emphasis on inclusivity and convergence makes it a crucial tool for urban development in India.