Antyodaya Diwas is annually observed across India on 25th September to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, an icon of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), philosopher of nationalist movements of India and political activist.
25th September 2020, marks the 104th Birthday of Pandit Deedayal Upadhyaya.
Aim:
“Antyodaya” means ‘uplifting the poorest of the poor’, the objective of Antyodaya Diwas is to reach out to the last person.
Background:
On 25th September 2014, the 98th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the Government of India(GOI) proclaimed 25th September of every year as Antyodaya Diwas in honour of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
- Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was born in 1916 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):
i.On 25th September 2014, The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) relaunched its existing skill development programme “Aajeevika Skills – National Rural Livelihoods Mission(NRLM)” that focused on greater access, coverage and quality.
ii.The Ministry renamed the programme as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in November 2015.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana(DDU-GKY):
i.Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana(DDU-GKY) was announced on 25th September 2014 as a part of the NRLM with two objectives,
- To add diversity to the incomes of the poor families in rural India.
- To provide support to the career aspirations of rural youths.
Events 2020:
i.As a part of the commemoration of Antyodaya Diwas 2020, MoRD is celebrating the foundation day of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana(DDU-GKY) with a program “Kaushal Se Kal Badlenge”, along with the beneficiaries and other stakeholders of the scheme across India.
ii.Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Rural Development along with Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Minister of State(MoS) for Rural Development participated in the program.
iii.The MoRD organised the virtual celebration of this day with the states and Union Territories(UTs), Project Implementation Agencies, Employers and youths of the rural region across India.
About Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD):
Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar
Minister of State(MoS)– Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
