- The collaboration aims to empower rural communities and enhance livelihood opportunities, particularly in rural livestock and fisheries development.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, MoRD; and J Sridharan, Executive Vice Chairman, BFIL in New Delhi, Delhi.
Framework of the MoU:
i.In the initial phase of the MoU, a centralized Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) will be established to support DAY-NRLM at the national level.
ii.State-level PMUs are to be set up in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar, comprising specialists from livestock (tailored to each state’s requirements), Market Linkage, etc.
iii.BFIL also strengthens Pashu Sakhis’ role in providing essential healthcare services to animals.
Focus Areas:
Facilitating livestock clusters, developing Information Technology (IT)-enabled ecosystems, and providing veterinary care and facilitation support to Self-Help Group (SHG) households enrolled in DAY-NRLM.
MoRD Signs MoU with J-PAL South Asia to Expand ‘Samaveshi Aajeevika’ across India
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), to expand the ‘Samaveshi Aajeevika’ program across India.
- J-PAL South Asia will support MoRD as a knowledge partner to drive evidence-based solutions for India’s women-led development.
Note: J-PAL South Asia, based at IFMR in India, leads J-PAL’s work in the South Asia region.
Objective:
This strategic collaboration aims to leverage knowledge and expertise to uplift marginalised communities, particularly focusing on women, towards self-sufficiency.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, MoRD; and Ms. Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director, J-PAL South Asia.
About the Partnerships:
i.As part of the MoU, J-PAL South Asia supports MoRD in integrating scientific evidence and data into decision-making processes, fostering the expansion of ‘Samaveshi Aajeevika.’
ii.The MoU will set up a Gender Impact Lab to conduct research and institutionalise data use for promoting women-led development within the DAY NRLM, a flagship livelihoods program of MoRD.
iii.The partnership will create an ecosystem for change, focused on sharing evidence and bridging knowledge gaps for the Graduation Approach across different states and contexts, nationwide.
iv.Supported by ASPIRE, a joint initiative by J-PAL South Asia and Veddis Foundation, the partnership attempts to drive impactful change on a large scale.
v.J-PAL South Asia will also collaborate with a MoRD-led coalition comprising civil society organisations that aim to share insights and lessons learned from Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana’s (SJY) implementation.
- SJY is a program launched by the Government of Bihar to address extreme poverty.
Understanding the ‘Samaveshi Aajeevika’ Program:
i.The program adopts the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee’s (BRAC) proven Graduation Approach, backed by randomised evaluations conducted by researchers affiliated with J-PAL, to alleviate extreme poverty among rural households effectively.
ii.Comprehensive Support: ‘Samaveshi Aajeevika’ offers business training, life-skills coaching, and short-term financial assistance to rural women across India.
iii.Integration with DAY-NRLM: Administered under the DAY-NRLM, the program ensures widespread reach and impact.
Recent related News:
MoRD and the State Bank of India (SBI) have signed an MoU to provide loans to rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
About Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):
Union Minister– Giriraj Singh (Constituency: Begusarai, Bihar)
Ministers of State– Faggan Singh Kulaste (Constituency: Mandla, Madhya Pradesh); Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Constituency: Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh)
