Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Urban Livelihoods Mission

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) seeks to help poor urban households earn secure and sustainable livelihoods. Its central objective is to reduce their poverty and vulnerability through gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment, supported by strong community institutions. It also addresses the shelter needs of urban homeless people and the livelihood needs of street vendors.

Improving livelihoods and reducing vulnerability

The mission seeks to enable urban poor households to improve their incomes sustainably, rather than depend only on short-term assistance. It supports both employment in the labour market and the creation of small enterprises.

• It promotes market-oriented skill development so that urban poor people can acquire skills relevant to employment opportunities.
• It supports self-employment and micro-enterprises by facilitating access to credit and enterprise-related assistance.
• It seeks to improve access to institutional finance, reducing barriers that prevent poor households from starting or expanding livelihood activities.

Building community institutions and empowering women

DAY-NULM treats the organisation of poor households as a foundation for lasting poverty reduction. Self-help groups and their federations enable members to save collectively, access credit and participate in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

• It mobilises urban poor households into community institutions that can provide mutual support and strengthen their collective capacity.
• It gives particular importance to women's participation in self-help groups, strengthening their access to financial services and livelihood opportunities.
• It builds the capacity of community institutions so that they can manage their activities and engage with public agencies and financial institutions.
• It promotes convergence with other programmes to improve access to services and entitlements available to the urban poor.

Supporting urban homeless people and street vendors

The mission recognises that livelihood insecurity also arises from the absence of shelter and suitable conditions for work. It therefore includes targeted support for urban homeless people and street vendors.

• It aims to provide urban homeless people with shelters equipped with essential services in a phased manner.
• These shelters are intended to be permanent and available in all weather, rather than merely temporary night-time arrangements.
• It seeks to address street vendors' livelihood concerns by facilitating access to suitable vending spaces.
• It supports vendors' access to institutional credit, social security, skills and emerging market opportunities.