Empowering Urban Poor: Initiatives by the Government of India
The Indian government has ramped up efforts to alleviate urban poverty through various programs aimed at supporting the most vulnerable communities in cities. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced significant progress in implementing the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), which seeks to empower urban residents by addressing their economic, social, and residential vulnerabilities. As this mission approaches its conclusion at the end of September 2024, it has already formed over 1 million Self Help Groups (SHGs), provided skill training to more than 1.5 million individuals, and established 1,995 shelters, accommodating approximately 141,000 beds.
Support for Street Vendors
In addition to DAY-NULM, MoHUA is actively supporting urban street vendors through the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. Launched in June 2020, this initiative offers collateral-free working capital loans to help vendors sustain their businesses. Recent updates to the scheme, effective from August 2025, have extended the lending period to March 2030 and broadened eligibility to include underserved areas such as census towns and peri-urban regions. The loan amounts have also been increased to ₹15,000 for the first tranche and ₹25,000 for the second, while introducing a credit card linked to UPI that provides an additional ₹30,000 for eligible vendors, enhancing business capabilities and promoting digital transactions.
Housing Initiatives for All
The government’s commitment to urban development is further evidenced by the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), initiated on June 25, 2015. This scheme aims to provide robust pucca houses with essential amenities to eligible urban residents. In a bid to expand housing availability, MoHUA launched PMAY-U 2.0 on September 1, 2024, under the ‘Housing for All’ mission. This revamped program seeks to construct, purchase, and rent homes for an additional 1 crore beneficiaries at affordable costs. To date, the ministry has sanctioned approximately 12.23 million houses, with about 9.7 million completed and delivered.
Pilot Program for Vulnerable Workers
Furthermore, MoHUA has launched a pilot program called ‘Deendayal Jan Aajeevika- Shehari (DJAY-S)’ on October 1, 2024, focusing on six high-risk occupational groups such as gig, transportation, construction, waste, care, and domestic workers. The aim of this initiative is to analyze these groups and create targeted interventions to improve their livelihood conditions.
This comprehensive strategy reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to uplift the urban poor and create sustainable living environments. This information was outlined by Shri Tokhan Sahu, the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, in a recent written response in the Lok Sabha.
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