October 14, 2020
Over a period of five years, the package will facilitate women’s empowerment in addition to providing employment opportunities.
An estimated 10 crore households are expected to be positively impacted nationwide by the DAY-NRLM.
Skill development and access to financial services are facilitated by a comprehensive network of local Self-Help groups.
The NITI Aayog maintains a strong investment infrastructure to be created in the UTs so as to uplift startups.
A special package of US$ 69mn towards the effective implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The initiative was formerly implemented under the name of ‘Ummeed’, as part of an attempt to curb unemployment and alleviate poverty in the former State. The DAY-NRLM will benefit from the special package for a period of five years and include women’s empowerment in its action plan. With the aim to help improve rural livelihoods in close to 100 million households nationwide the DAY-NRLM is connected to Self-Help Groups that will guide individuals through skill development and access to financial institutions. The success of the Mission has been attested to by a 2019 evaluation conducted by the Institute of Rural Management (IRMA). The far-reaching improvements ushered in by the Mission extend to the community at large through quality problem-solving and the boosting of investments in fruitful initiatives.
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission will benefit the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as there are close to 100 start-ups requiring handholding into the process of recovery. The NITI Aayog points to there being greater scope for creating strong investment infrastructure such that local industries can gradually flourish. Effective fiscal management, as well as good governance, have been identified as key factors required to lead the local economy towards sustainable growth. It will also be essential to improve grassroots sectors such as agriculture to increase overall productivity and enhance their income generation potential. Several allied sectors including sericulture, livestock development, dairy development and fisheries are also to be strengthened. Supply chain consolidation designed to withstand the peculiarities of the region is also recommended as a key priority in reviving the economy of the Union Territories. The implementation of the DAY-NRLM in Union Territories can help strengthen the grassroots and industrial economies while providing substantial and sustained employment opportunities for the local youth.