Category Policy Update

National Urban Livelihoods Mission 2013: Creating a safe haven for the urban poor

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is known for its multifaceted approach to address the different needs of the urban poor and their upliftment. The NULM believes that economic development and urbanisation are closely linked to each other. Data points towards the contribution of urban cities to be more than 60 per cent to India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The Report on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector by the National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, brought out in August 2007 (NCEUS, 2007) reveals that in 2004-05, out of India’s total workforce, 92 percent were a part of the informal economy.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs: Empowering India’s Diverse Fabric 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs isn’t just a bureaucracy, it’s a lifeline for India’s 300 million minorities, stitching them into the nation’s growth story. From scholarships lifting dropout kids to PMJVK building schools, it’s made strides—literacy’s up, jobs are sprouting. Yet, state delays, thin funds, and political noise hobble its pace.

Unlocking Public Assets – Evaluating India’s Asset Monetization Plan 2025-30

In the Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced India's Asset Monetization Plan 2025-30, a strategic approach to leverage the existing public infrastructure assets and create non-tax revenue to reinvest in new infrastructure projects. This new initiative is based on the earlier National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) 2021-25, which plans to generate ₹10 lakh crore through monetizing these functioning brownfield assets across sectors, including Highways, Railways, Power, Telecom, and Aviation. This is also consistent with the government’s broader goal of fiscal discipline and sustainable infrastructure development.

Western Kosi Canal Project in Mithilanchal

The 2025-26 Budget speech of Nirmala Sitharaman Ji included budgetary support for the execution of Western Kosi Canal ERM (extension renovation and modification) Project. Fund support from the budget will enable the Western Kosi Canal ERM (extension, renovation, and modification) Project to deliver benefits to multiple farmers cultivating more than 50000 hectares of land.

Eradicating TB: India’s Race Against Time

World TB Day, observed on March 24, has once again brought renewed focus to this deadly disease with the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” India must truly commit to ending the disease by 2025, invest in overall TB treatment, and deliver on its promise of providing the fundamental right to health to its citizens.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005: A Cornerstone of Rural Development

There’s a huge potential for the expansion of the MGNREGA scheme, especially in regions that have been underserved. The involvement of panchayats and community groups is instrumental in the execution of the scheme’s projects on the ground by identifying local needs and grievances. It’s crucial to ensure that the benefits reach those who need them the most. Although MGNREGA is unlikely to succeed without sustained political commitment and public pressure, its enactment has been a remarkable achievement. 

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