Himachal gets first prize for successful implementation of Urban Livelihoods Mission :

1. Himachal Pradesh has bagged the first prize in ‘Himalayan & North Eastern Region’ category in the implementation of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary presented this prize to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Himachal Pradesh got an amount of Rs. 5 crores as additional grant-in-aid along with citation as a prize.

2. Self Help Group (SHG) were being constituted and for the socio-economic upliftment of the weaker section of the urban areas, they were skilled under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-National Urban Livelihood Mission. After constituting the SHG a revolving fund worth Rs. 10 thousand was being provided after three months.

3. Under Kaushal Vikas scheme a free training and on low-interest-rate easy loan through banks for self-employment was also being provided to the beneficiaries. A special scheme was also being prepared after a survey of street vendors for their upliftment.

About Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) :

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY) with an aim to uplift the urban poor folks by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development. Keeping in view the objective of Make in India, Skill Development is essential for socio economic betterment. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana was launched under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA). Government of India has provisioned Rs.500 crore for the scheme. The scheme is integration of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is renamed as Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-(DAY-NULM) and in Hindi as - Rashtriya Shahri Aajeevika Mission. Under the scheme urban areas extends the coverage to all the 4041 statutory cities and towns, there by covering almost the entire urban population. Currently, all the urban poverty alleviating programmes covered only 790 towns and cities.

Mission of DAY-NULM

To reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting in an appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis, through building strong grassroots level. The mission would also aim to providing the shelter equipped with essential services to the urban homeless in a phased manner. The scheme also address the livelihood concern of the urban street vendors by facilitating with suitable space, institutional credit, and social security and skills to the urban street vendor for accessing emerging market opportunities.

Components : The scheme has two component one for urban India and other for rural India.

• The Urban component named as Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana will be implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
• The rural component named as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana will be implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Main highlights of the scheme :

• Employment through Skill Training and Placement - An expenditure of Rs.15, 000 per person is allowed on training of urban poor which is Rs.18, 000 in North-East and J&K. Moreover, Training urban poor to meet the enormous demand from urban citizens by imparting market-oriented skills through City Livelihood Centers.
• Social Mobilization and Institution Development - It will be done through formation of Self-Help Groups (SHG) for training members and hand holding, an initial support of 10, 000 is given for each group. Assistance of Rs.50, 000 is provided to Registered Area Level Federations.
• Subsidy to urban poor - An interest subsidy of 5% - 7% for setting up individual micro-enterprises with a loan of up to 2 lakh and for group enterprises with a loan limit of up to Rs.10 lakhs.
• Shelters for urban homeless - Cost of construction of shelters for urban homeless is fully funded under the Scheme.
• Other means - Development of vendor markets and also the promotion of skills for the vendors through setting up infrastructure and special projects for the rag picker and differently abled etc.