The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) has been recognized with the highly regarded SKOCH Governance Gold Award for its Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA). This initiative resides under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ oversight and primarily seeks to support the urban poor through skill enhancement leading to sustainable livelihood opportunities.
About DAY-NULM
Launched in 2014, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission is a principal initiative run by the Urban Ministry of Housing & Poverty Alleviation. This central government-sponsored project’s primary goal is to elevate the urban poor by providing them sustainable livelihood opportunities through proficient skill development.
The funding for this mission is shared between the central and state governments following a ratio of 75:25. However, for North Eastern and Special Category states, the ratio is adjusted to 90:10. The designated beneficiaries are the urban poor, including individuals such as street vendors, slum dwellers, the homeless, rag pickers, unemployed citizens, and differently-abled individuals.
Providing Skills Training and Employment
In addition to developing vendor markets, DAY-NULM also promotes skills upgrading for vendors through infrastructure and special projects for rag pickers and differently-abled populations. Skill training and placements are facilitated through City Livelihood Centres to reduce poverty and vulnerability. The mission additionally offers an interest subsidy of 5% – 7% to the urban poor for establishing individual micro-enterprises with a loan limit of up to 2 lakhs and a group enterprise limit of up to Rs.10 lakhs.
Formation of Self-Help Groups
The mission encourages social mobilization and institutional development through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The mission provides SHG members with training and hand-holding support, with each group receiving an initial support of Rs. 10,000.
Construction of Shelters for Homeless
In building a safe and secure environment for the urban homeless, DAY-NULM fully funds the construction cost of shelters.
| Facts about DAY-NULM |
|---|
| Launched in 2014 |
| Run by the Urban Ministry of Housing & Poverty Alleviation |
| Aims to uplift urban poor through skill development |
| Central and state government share funding |
| Provides training and employment opportunities |
| Promotes self-help groups and community mobilization |
| Funds the full cost of construction for shelters for homeless |
Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA)
The PAiSA portal is a centralized IT platform that eases the release of interest subvention under DAY-NULM. This platform offers comprehensive online solutions for processing, payment, monitoring, and tracking of interest subvention claims from banks on a monthly basis. The portal was designed and developed through a collaboration with Allahabad Bank.
The Prestigious SKOCH Awards
Instituted in 2003, the SKOCH Awards honour individuals, projects, and institutions that go above and beyond to drive India’s growth and development, recognizing exceptional efforts in digital, financial, and social inclusion, governance, inclusive growth, technology excellence, change management, corporate leadership, corporate governance, citizen service delivery, capacity building, and empowerment.
