Anandadhara

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India restructured Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) into National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in the Financial Year – 2010-11 to provide a sharper and greater focus as well as momentum for poverty reduction. The framework for implementation of NRLM was approved by MoRD on 09/12/2010 and the Mission was formally launched on 03/06/2011. In November, 2015 the programme was renamed “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM)”. In West Bengal the programme was named as “Anandadhara”.

Mission :

The Mission of NRLM is “To reduce poverty by enabling the poor households to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting in appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis, through building strong grass-root institutions of the poor.” NRLM enables (a) Shift from allocation based strategy to a demand driven strategy enabling the states to formulate their own livelihood-based poverty reduction action plan, (b) Focus on targets, outlets and time bound delivery, (c) Continuous capacity building, imparting requisite skills and creating linkages with livelihood opportunities for the poor including those emerging in the organized sectors and (d) Monitoring against targets of poverty outcomes.

Universal Social Mobilization :

The inclusion of the target group under NRLM is determined by a well defined, transparent and equitable process of participatory identification of poor at the level of the community. All households identified as poor through the PIP process in the NRLM target group and is eligible for all the benefits under programme.

Financial Inclusion :

NRLM works on both demand and supply of financial inclusion. On the demand side, it promotes financial literacy among the poor and provides catalytic capital to the SHGs and their federations. On the supply side, the mission co-ordinates with the financial sector and encourages use of Information, Communication and Technologies (ICT) based financial technologies, business correspondents and community facilitators like “Bank Mitras”. It also works towards universal coverage of rural poor against risk of loss of life, health and assets. Further it works on remittances, specially in areas where migration is endemic.

Livelihoods :

NRLM focuses on stabilizing and promoting existing livelihood portfolio of the poor its three pillars – – “Livelihoods enhancements” – through depending/enhancing and expanding existing livelihoods options and tapping new opportunities in farm and non-farm sectors. – “Employment” – Building skills for the job market outside and – “Enterprises” – Nurturing self-employed and Entrepreneurs (for micro enterprises). NRLM promotes and supports collectives towards sustainable livelihoods of the poor (CSLP) around these and other key livelihoods of the poor. These collectives offer their members access to livelihoods knowledge, skills, technology, market intelligence, risk management products and credit support through their SHGs and Federations to individual members/households.

Convergence and Partnership:

NRLM places a high emphasis on convergence with other programmes of MoRD and other Central Ministries. Convergence is also sought with programmes of State Government. NRLM proactively seeking partnership with NGOs and other civil society organizations. Linkage with PRIs : Formal platform would be established for regular consultation between such institutions and PRIs for exchange of advice, support and sharing of resources.

Sensitive Support Structure:

This effort requires dedicated human resources. Realizing this NRLM has set-up support structures at NNMU, SMMU, DMMU, BMMU/PFT.

Institutions of the Poor:

SHGs and Federations at the village and cluster level and beyond and other collectives of the poor constitute institutions of the poor. SHGs are federated at the village level, sub-block and higher levels. They are supported to become self-sufficient and community managed institutions over time.

Financial Assistance:

SHGs maintaining cardinal principles are supported with Revolving Fund to enhance their financial capacity. The State of West Bengal is providing a fund every year to SHG under “JAAGO” scheme. The cluster of SHGs are supported with Community Investment Fund to lend the SHGs and Vulnerability Reduction Fund to lend the vulnerable SHG members with very low interest charges. SHGs may also take privileges of taking cash credit loans from Banks with low interest. Government is giving interest subventions on the loan of SHGs.

Purulia District Profile of SHG:

Mahasangha – 03, Sangha Samabay – 170

Upa-Sangha – 1852, Total SHG – 41234

No. of SHGs availed CC loan (2021-22) – 15937

Amount of CC loan availed (2021-22) – Rs.36,250.83 Lakh

District Marketing Sangha – 1

Block Marketing Sangha – 20

No. of Stalls run by SHG – 280

Convergence with MGNREGS :

Under MGNREGS various income generating schemes like Agriculture, Horticulture, Poulty, Fishery, Piggery are being taken-up specially in Matir Sristi Sites and SHGs are being involved for these schemes for sustainable income generation of the family of SHG members.

Convergence with ARD Department :

State Government, through the Department of ARD, entrusted the Sanghas for supply of goats, giving chicks to SHGs for generating income of them.

Convergence with Horticulture Department :

SHGs involved in Horticulture Schemes are being benefited with supply of saplings giving by Horticulture Department.

Convergence with School Education Department :

Government of West Bengal has now envisioned community involvement in the supply of school uniforms to the students of Govt./Govt. aided schools form Pre-Primary to Class-VIII for enabling the state to reap the twin benefits of getting SHG members engaged in this huge economic opportunity as well as ensuring that school students get quality school uniforms as per their entitlement under RTE.

SHG Products in Purulia :

The SHG members are producing vegetables, RTE food, packets, Bamboo Crafts, Babui Crafts, Ghee, Jam, Jelly, Pickles, Lac Ornaments, School uniforms, Bori, Paper plate, Cloth bag, Sanitary Napkin, Bakery products, Puffed rice, Dhenki processed rice, Paper pen, Junk jewellery etc.