DAY-NRLM Empowers Rural Women: Reaches Nearly 10 Crore Beneficiaries

New Delhi:  In a remarkable achievement, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is on the verge of achieving its ambitious goal of reaching out to 10 crore women from rural poor households by the end of the financial year 2023-24. As of January 31, 2024, a staggering 9.98 crore women have been mobilized into 90.39 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs), underscoring the program’s success in empowering rural women.

Implemented since 2011 in a mission mode, DAY-NRLM focuses on organizing rural poor women into SHGs and supporting them in economic activities to substantially increase their income over time, thereby improving their quality of life and lifting them out of abject poverty. The program has successfully ensured that at least one woman member from each rural poor household is brought into women SHGs and their federations within a specified time frame.

Since 2013-14, women SHGs have cumulatively leveraged an impressive credit of Rs. 8.15 lakh crores from banks to undertake income-generating activities, showcasing the economic impact of the program on grassroots communities.

As part of DAY-NRLM, the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) has been implemented to assist rural poor SHGs in setting up enterprises in non-agricultural sectors. The scheme provides start-up capital and establishes a cadre of Community Resource Persons-Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP) to offer business support services to these enterprises.

The Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY), launched in August 2017, is a sub-component of DAY-NRLM aimed at providing safe, affordable, and community-monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages, addressing transportation challenges faced by rural residents.

Additionally, the Ministry is implementing the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) as a sub-component of DAY-NRLM, focusing on empowering women in agriculture. MKSP encompasses sustainable agriculture and Non-Timber Forest Produces (NTFP) activities, with a universal strategic intervention in livestock.

DAY-NRLM has also emphasized value chain development interventions to enhance market linkages, creating a comprehensive business model that provides primary producers with end-to-end solutions, from establishing producer organizations to building marketing linkages. These efforts underline the mission’s commitment to holistic rural development and sustainable livelihoods.

The achievements of DAY-NRLM reflect the government’s commitment to empowering rural women and promoting inclusive economic growth in the country.