Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM)
Table of Contents
Chapter Overview
Scheme Name: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
Launched: June 2011 (restructured SGSY)
Renamed: 2016 as “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM”
Nature: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) jointly funded by Centre and States
Tagline: “Transforming Rural India through Women Empowerment and Self-Reliance”
The Vision Behind Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM) is a flagship poverty reduction mission of the Government of India. It focuses on enabling **rural poor households—especially women—**to achieve sustainable livelihoods through self-employment, financial inclusion, and skill training.
Originally launched as the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in 2011, it was renamed in 2016 to honour Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, emphasising Antyodaya — upliftment of the last person in society.
Core Objectives of DAY-NRLM
The main goal is to reduce poverty by empowering the poor, especially women, through community institutions and financial inclusion.
Key Objectives
- Mobilise rural poor women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and federations.
- Provide access to formal credit and banking services.
- Create sustainable livelihood opportunities in farm and non-farm sectors.
- Build entrepreneurial capacity through training and handholding support.
- Ensure social inclusion, gender equality, and access to entitlements.
Components of the Mission
DAY-NRLM operates through four major pillars:
| Component | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 1. Social Mobilisation & Institution Building | Formation and nurturing of SHGs, Village Organisations, and Cluster Level Federations. |
| 2. Financial Inclusion | Easy access to collateral-free credit, interest subvention, and digital transactions. |
| 3. Livelihood Promotion | Farm, livestock, NTFP (non-timber forest produce), and micro-enterprises. |
| 4. Social Inclusion & Convergence | Integration with other welfare schemes like PMAY-G, PMJJBY, PMSBY, PMKVY, etc. |
Women Empowerment Under DAY-NRLM
SHG Revolution
- 10.05 crore rural households mobilised into 90.9 lakh SHGs across India.
- ₹11 lakh crore disbursed to SHGs through formal banking channels — backed by 98% repayment rate.
Livelihood & Entrepreneurship
- 4.62 crore Mahila Kisans empowered through agro-ecological practices.
- 3.74 lakh enterprises supported via Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP).
- 3.5 lakh Krishi Sakhis & Pashu Sakhis deployed to support farm and livestock livelihoods.
Sakhi Model: Women Leading Change
| Sakhi Type | Role & Function |
|---|---|
| Krishi Sakhi | Community Agriculture Service Provider ensuring sustainable farm practices. |
| Pashu Sakhi | Local animal healthcare and livestock advisor. |
| Bank Sakhi | SHG member supporting banking operations, credit linkage, and financial literacy. |
| Bima Sakhi | Facilitates insurance enrolment under PMJJBY & PMSBY. |
These community resource persons (CRPs) ensure last-mile delivery of financial and livelihood services.
Entrepreneurship & Skill Development under DAY-NRLM
The mission also runs two major sub-schemes to train rural youth for employment and entrepreneurship.
(a) Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
- Provides placement-linked skill training for youth (15–35 years).
- 17.5 lakh trained; 11.48 lakh placed in formal jobs.
- Top States: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.
(b) Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)
- Bank-sponsored centres offering entrepreneurship training (age 18–50).
- 56.69 lakh trained, 40.99 lakh settled till June 2025.
- Leading States: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka.
High-Performing States under DAY-NRLM
| Indicator | Leading States (as of 2025) |
|---|---|
| SHG Formation | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh |
| Capitalisation Support | Uttar Pradesh (₹1,23,326 lakh), Bihar (₹1,05,132 lakh) |
| Bank Loan Disbursement | Andhra Pradesh (₹34,83,725 lakh) |
| Mahila Kisan Coverage | Maharashtra (12.9 lakh), UP (11.3 lakh), AP (10.4 lakh) |
| SVEP Enterprises | Assam (9,557), Kerala (5,802), West Bengal (4,933) |
Advanced Training & Marketing Support
SARAS Aajeevika Melas
- National and State-level exhibitions promoting SHG products.
- Latest held: New Delhi, 5–22 September 2025.
Capacity Building by NIRD&PR
- Conducts Training of Trainers (ToT) on marketing, branding, and sales.
- 44 national-level training programs organised in the past 3 years.
Major Achievements (as of June 2025)
| Metric | Achievement |
|---|---|
| SHGs Formed | 90.9 lakh |
| Rural Households Mobilised | 10.05 crore |
| Mahila Kisans | 4.62 crore |
| Producer Groups | 1.95 lakh |
| Enterprises Supported | 3.74 lakh |
| Bank Sakhis Deployed | 47,952 |
| Credit Disbursed | ₹11 lakh crore |
| Repayment Rate | 98% |
Why DAY-NRLM Matters for India
- Reduces rural poverty through self-reliant livelihood systems.
- Empowers women to lead financial and social decision-making.
- Promotes sustainable agriculture & entrepreneurship.
- Strengthens rural–urban economic linkages via SHG enterprises.
- Supports the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision for inclusive growth.
FAQs on Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana
What is Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana?
It is a flagship rural poverty alleviation scheme launched in 2011 to empower poor households—especially women—through SHGs, financial inclusion, and skill training.
When was DAY-NRLM launched and by which ministry?
It was launched in June 2011 by the Ministry of Rural Development and renamed as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM in 2016.
What are the four components of DAY-NRLM?
Social mobilisation, financial inclusion, sustainable livelihoods, and social development & convergence.
How many Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are active under the scheme?
As of 2025, 90.9 lakh SHGs covering 10 crore rural households are active under DAY-NRLM.
What are DDU-GKY and RSETI under DAY-NRLM?
They are sub-schemes focusing on skill development and entrepreneurship training for rural youth, linking them to sustainable employment.
What is Krishi Sakhi and Bank Sakhi?
Krishi Sakhi: Promotes sustainable agriculture.
Bank Sakhi: Assists SHGs in accessing formal credit and financial services.
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) stands as India’s largest women-led poverty alleviation programme. By combining social mobilisation, skill development, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship, it has created an ecosystem of empowered women, sustainable enterprises, and rural prosperity.
As India moves towards its Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision, DAY-NRLM is not just a welfare scheme—it’s a blueprint for inclusive growth and self-reliance.
Source: PIB
