Context: The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), stands among the world’s largest poverty alleviation and women-led livelihood programmes. It focuses on empowering rural households, particularly women, through collective organisation, financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.
Background and Evolution
Launched in 2011, the mission was restructured from the earlier Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). In 2016, it was renamed to honour Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy — uplifting the poorest of the poor.
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a funding ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and States, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States.
Objectives of DAY-NRLM
- Social Mobilisation and Inclusion: Organising rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federations.
- Financial Inclusion: Facilitating access to affordable credit and digital banking.
- Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting diversification in agriculture, livestock, and microenterprises.
- Skill Development: Enhancing youth employability through training and placement.
- Empowerment and Convergence: Strengthening women’s leadership and linking SHGs to government programmes and markets.
Achievements and Impact (as of 2025)
| Focus Area | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Mass Mobilisation | Over 10 crore rural women organised into 90 lakh SHGs across India. |
| Financial Empowerment | SHGs accessed ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free loans with >98% repayment rate (MoRD, 2025). |
| Community Workforce | 3.5 lakh Krishi/Pashu Sakhis and 48,000 Bank Sakhis offering doorstep financial and livelihood services. |
| Livelihood Diversification | 4.62 crore Mahila Kisans trained in sustainable agriculture; 3.7 lakh microenterprises supported through SVEP. |
| Skill Development | 17.5 lakh youth trained and 11.48 lakh placed via DDU-GKY; 40.99 lakh youth settled in self-employment via RSETIs. |
| Market Integration | SHG products promoted through SARAS Aajeevika Melas, branding, and e-commerce partnerships. |
Significance
- Women-Led Development: Over 90% of SHG members are women, making DAY-NRLM a cornerstone of gender-inclusive growth.
- Financial Resilience: SHGs have emerged as micro-banking hubs, improving credit access in rural areas.
- Local Entrepreneurship: Encourages village-level enterprises in food processing, handicrafts, and services, promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat in rural India.
- Skill Ecosystem: Integration with DDU-GKY and RSETIs ensures rural youth employability and entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
The DAY-NRLM reflects India’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and women-driven rural transformation. By combining collective action, skill development, and digital inclusion, it continues to serve as a model for community-led poverty eradication and self-reliance.