About
- The Ministry of Rural Development has introduced a new scheme called Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) as an initiative to assist the Self Help Groups (SHG) of backward areas. It was launched under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme, which aims to alleviate poverty by providing skill training.
- The Self-Help Groups under DAY-NRLM will operate road transport services in backward areas. This will help to provide safe, affordable, and community-monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (such as access to markets, education, and health) for the overall economic development of backward rural areas.
- NRLM identifies routes where roads have been constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) but have poor transport services. SHG members are then provided interest-free loans by Community-based organizations for operating vehicles on the identified routes based on financial viability.
AGEY Scheme objectives
- To provide safe, affordable, and community-monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (including access to markets, education, and health) for the overall economic development of the area by making use of the supports available within the framework of DAY-NRLM.
- To provide an alternative source of livelihood to members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their families under DAY-NRLM by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas, as identified by the States.
- The scheme is currently being implemented in 18 States and 624 vehicles are operational under the scheme.
- AGEY was to be implemented in 250 blocks across the country on a pilot basis. The responsibility of identifying the blocks lies with the State government.
- There is no separate budgetary allocation under AGEY.
- Under the program, the Community Investment Fund (CIF) provided to Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) under the existing provisions of DAY-NRLM is utilized for providing interest-free loans to the SHG members.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)
About
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Programme, launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2011.
- It aims to eliminate rural poverty through the promotion of multiple livelihoods and improved access to financial services for rural poor households across the country.
Functioning
- It involves working with community institutions through community professionals in the spirit of self-help which is a unique proposition of DAY-NRLM.
- It impacts livelihoods by
- Mobilizing rural households into SHGs.
- Organizing one woman member from each rural poor household into SHGs
- Providing training and capacity building to SHG members
- Providing access to financial resources from their institutions and banks.
Sub Programs
- Mahila Kisan Shashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): It aims to promote agroecological practices that increase women farmers’ income and reduce their input costs and risks.
- Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP): It aims to support entrepreneurs in rural areas to set up local enterprises.
- Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY): It was launched in August 2017, to provide safe, affordable, and community-monitored rural transport services to connect remote rural villages.
- Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY): It aims at building placement-linked skills of the rural youth and placing them in relatively higher wage employment sectors of the economy.
- Rural Self-Employment Institutes (RSETIs): DAY-NRLM, in partnership with 31 Banks and State Governments, is supporting Rural Self Employment Institutes (RSETIs) for skilling rural youth to take up gainful self-employment.
