National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM)

National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM): Aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. 

The National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), now known as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, in September 2013. The mission aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. NULM focuses on providing shelter equipped with essential services to the urban homeless and promoting social mobilization and institutional development for the urban poor.

### Objectives of NULM:

1. **Skill Development and Employment**: To enhance the skills of the urban poor and enable them to access employment opportunities or pursue self-employment.

2. **Financial Inclusion**: To facilitate access to suitable financial products and services for the urban poor, including credit for enterprise development and affordable housing.

3. **Social Mobilization and Institutional Development**: To mobilize the urban poor into self-help groups (SHGs) and their federations and build their capacities for livelihood enhancement.

4. **Shelter for Urban Homeless**: To provide shelters equipped with essential services to the urban homeless to ensure their safety and dignity.

5. **Support to Urban Street Vendors**: To create a supportive environment for urban street vendors to carry out their livelihoods with dignity and security.

### Key Components of NULM:

1. **Social Mobilization and Institution Development (SM&ID)**:

   - Mobilizes the urban poor into SHGs and their federations.

   - Provides capacity building and training to SHG members for skill development and livelihood promotion.

2. **Employment through Skill Training and Placement (EST&P)**:

   - Provides skill training to the urban poor to enhance their employability.

   - Facilitates job placements for trained individuals in wage employment or supports them in setting up self-employment ventures.

3. **Self-Employment Programme (SEP)**:

   - Supports the urban poor in setting up individual and group micro-enterprises.

   - Provides financial assistance in the form of loans with interest subsidies for enterprise development.

4. **Support to Urban Street Vendors (SUSV)**:

   - Conducts surveys of street vendors and issues identification cards.

   - Provides skill training, credit, social security, and other support services to street vendors.

   - Facilitates the creation of vending zones and promotes the formalization of street vending.

5. **Scheme of Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH)**:

   - Establishes shelters for the urban homeless equipped with basic amenities such as water, sanitation, safety, and security.

   - Ensures linkage of shelter residents to various entitlements and government schemes.

6. **Innovative and Special Projects (ISP)**:

   - Promotes innovative projects and approaches to address urban poverty and livelihood challenges.

   - Encourages community-based initiatives and partnerships with civil society organizations for livelihood promotion.

### Achievements of NULM:

1. **Social Mobilization**:

   - Formation of a large number of SHGs and their federations, empowering urban poor women and promoting savings and credit activities.

2. **Skill Development and Employment**:

   - Training and placement of a significant number of urban poor in various sectors, enhancing their employability and income levels.

3. **Financial Inclusion**:

   - Facilitated access to credit and financial services for SHG members and micro-entrepreneurs, promoting economic self-reliance.

4. **Shelters for Urban Homeless**:

   - Established numerous shelters across urban areas, providing safe and dignified living conditions for the homeless population.

5. **Support to Street Vendors**:

   - Registered and provided identification to street vendors, enhancing their security and access to social protection schemes.

### Challenges and Future Directions:

1. **Sustainability of SHGs**:

   - Ensuring the long-term sustainability and financial viability of SHGs and their federations through continuous capacity building and support.

2. **Quality of Skill Training**:

   - Improving the quality and relevance of skill training programs to match industry requirements and market demands.

3. **Access to Credit**:

   - Enhancing access to affordable credit for urban poor entrepreneurs to scale up their businesses and sustain their livelihoods.

4. **Shelter Management**:

   - Ensuring the effective management and maintenance of shelters for the urban homeless and linking them to social and economic reintegration programs.

5. **Inclusive Urban Planning**:

   - Promoting inclusive urban planning and development to integrate the needs of the urban poor, including street vendors and the homeless, into city development plans.

### Conclusion:

The National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) plays a critical role in addressing urban poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of the urban poor through a multi-faceted approach. By focusing on skill development, financial inclusion, social mobilization, and support for vulnerable groups such as street vendors and the homeless, NULM aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities and improve the quality of life for urban poor communities. Continued efforts to address challenges, enhance program implementation, and promote inclusive urban development will be essential for achieving the mission's objectives and ensuring the socio-economic empowerment of the urban poor.