Urban Livelihood Mission's Second Phase To Focus On Migrant Poor: Report

The government is contemplating a second phase of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), which is scheduled to conclude in March 2024. According to the Indian Express, this phase would specifically target the migrant poor residing in cities.

Government sources cited in the report say that DAY-NULM 2.0 has the potential to focus on various occupation groups in urban areas, including construction workers, rickshaw drivers, and other workers in the unorganised sector.

The mission currently prioritises the establishment of women's self-help groups, providing skill training, establishing shelters for urban homeless individuals, and supporting street vendors. In the second phase of the mission, there is a possibility of forming similar groups based on occupation.

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, responsible for the Mission, signed a three-year MoU with the United Nations Development Programme in June of this year for collaboration on DAY-NULM. Although the Mission is scheduled to end in March 2024, this partnership will continue beyond that timeframe.

The ministry announced on 21 June that they will be implementing a three-year project aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the growth of enterprises. The project, which has the potential to be extended beyond 2025, will initially cover eight cities.

The NULM was initiated by the UPA government in 2013, but its scope and name were revised by the NDA government in 2016. According to ministry data, the budget for the DAY-NULM was released last week, with Rs 5,387 crore out of the total Central share of Rs 6,404 crore.

As part of the Mission, women's self-help groups receive a one-time revolving fund of Rs 10,000 each to initiate their activities. This fund serves the purpose of promoting the practice of saving and borrowing within the groups and becomes a part of the lending capital, along with the members' own savings, as outlined in the scheme's operational guidelines.

A total of 8.74 lakh self-help groups have been formed in the cities, benefiting over 89.33 lakh women. Out of these groups, revolving funds have been distributed to 6.12 lakh self-help groups.

Based on government data, a total of 15 lakh individuals have received skill training, with 8.2 lakh of them successfully placed in employment. Furthermore, 8.83 lakh beneficiaries have been provided assistance in establishing their own businesses or forming group businesses.

The Mission conducted surveys in 3,467 cities to determine the number of street vendors. The surveys identified a total of 53.76 lakh vendors, who were then provided with letters of recommendation. Additionally, 37.52 lakh vendors received certificates of vending, while 30.99 lakh were issued ID cards, as indicated by the data.