The Union Cabinet has endorsed a special package worth Rs. 520 crore for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. This approval is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) and will continue for five years.
Aim of the Special Package
This decision aligns with the Central Government’s objective to universalize all centrally funded beneficiary-oriented plans in both J&K and Ladakh on a timeline. The package has received the green light till the fiscal year 2023-24. It promises funding based on demand without making the allocation subjective to poverty ratio during this period.
Anticipated Impact of the Relief Package
Approximately two-thirds of rural women from these Union Territories stand to gain from this initiative. Estimates suggest that around 10.58 lakh women are likely to benefit from this special package.
This move was motivated by conclusions drawn from an evaluation which indicated the potential of the Mission to enhance the living standards of rural households. It also envisages bolstering women empowerment considering the modified circumstances in J&K and Ladakh.
About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)
Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in June 2011, DAY-NRLM is a centrally sponsored programme. Its primary goal is rural poverty eradication through nurturing various livelihoods and providing better access to financial services for rural poor households across India. Moreover, it endeavors to make an impact on all impoverished rural households by improving their livelihoods.
Functioning of DAY-NRLM
The DAY-NRLM employs community institutions and professionals for its functioning. It follows the principle of self-help, one of its unique propositions.
The Mission influences livelihoods through universal social mobilization which includes organizing one woman member from each rural poor household into Self Help Groups (SHGs). It facilitates their training and capacity building, aids in creating their micro-livelihood plans, and enables them to execute these plans by helping access financial resources from their own institutions and banks.
Implementation of DAY-NRLM
DAY-NRLM is implemented in a mission mode by special purpose vehicles. Autonomous state societies with dedicated support units at national, state, district, and block levels employ professional human resources to provide continuous and long-term handholding support to each impoverished rural family.
Support Provided by Government Under the Scheme
According to data available, there were 63 lakh SHGs, consisting of seven crore women members countrywide, which were granted Rs. 3 lakh crore in loans. The non-performing assets (NPA) amounted to only 2.3%. The outstanding loans accounted for Rs. 1 lakh crore. The government envisages extending this scheme to 10 crore women.
Source: PIB