DAY-NRLM Roadmap 2026–31: Focus on Institutions and Enterprises

Context

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has been taken up for a strategic review for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a renewed focus on scaling women-led rural enterprises and strengthening grassroots institutions.

Scheme Profile – A centrally sponsored flagship initiative aimed at reducing rural poverty and enhancing livelihoods through the Self-Help Group (SHG)–based community mobilisation approach.

Year of Introduction – 2016.

Former Designation – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

Administrative Authority – Ministry of Rural Development.

Operational Framework – Executed by State Rural Livelihoods Missions in partnership with SHGs, Village Organisations (VOs) and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs).

Territorial Reach – Implemented across all States and Union Territories except Delhi and Chandigarh.

Scale of Outreach – Nearly 10 crore rural poor households organised into around 91 lakh SHGs nationwide.

Core Aims

• Income Generation – Foster sustainable livelihoods and women-centric entrepreneurship.
• Access to Finance – Integrate beneficiaries with formal banking and credit systems.
• Livelihood Expansion – Encourage diversification and convergence with public services and entitlements.
• Women’s Agency – Strengthen social participation and leadership of rural women.

Target Groups

• Rural women from poor households.
• Members of SHGs.
• Rural youth covered under skilling initiatives.

Beneficiary Selection

Households identified as NRLM Target Households (NTH) through Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) rather than BPL enumeration.

Associated Programmes

• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
• Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs).

Programme Pillars

• Institutional Strengthening & Financial Access – SHG nurturing, collateral-free credit, interest subvention, banking outreach via Bank Sakhis.
• Enterprise Promotion – Support to farm-based activities through Mahila Kisans; non-farm sectors like handicrafts and food processing; Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP).
• Community Cadre Support – Krishi Sakhi, Pashu Sakhi and Bank Sakhi for sector-specific services.
• Skills & Wage Employment – DDU-GKY for placement-linked training (15–35 years); RSETIs for entrepreneurial skills (18–50 years).
• Market Linkages & Capacity Enhancement – SARAS Aajeevika Melas and training support from NIRDPR.

Financing Arrangement – Cost-sharing between the Union and State Governments.

Impact Assessment

• NPAs maintained at about 1.7% despite large credit volumes.
• Marked improvement in women’s economic security and community leadership.
• Robust base created for future growth in entrepreneurship, market integration and innovative financing.

Source : PIB