Non-Farm Livelihood

Objective:

• Enable rural poor to establish their livelihood through livelihood generation activities.
• Develop local resources by training a pool of village-level community cadre.
• Help rural entrepreneurs access finance for starting their own enterprises.
• Provide market linkages to rural entrepreneurs.
• Convergence with other department and Corporates for economic upliftment

Schemes and programs under Nonfarm

A.    Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP):

• Aims to encourage entrepreneurship initiatives among rural youth.
• Provides knowledge, advisory, and financial support to rural start-up entrepreneurs.
• Establishes systems for identification, assistance, and handholding support for setting up and sustaining enterprises.
• Trains block-level community cadre (CRP-EPs) in business management to support rural entrepreneurs.

 B.   Pradhanmantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME):

• Enhances the competitiveness of micro food processing enterprises.
• Supports credit access, branding, marketing, formalization, common services, and institutional strengthening through SNA (GAICL).
• Provides credit-linked capital subsidy and seed capital to individual and group Micro Food Processing Enterprises and self-help groups (SHGs) through State Nodal Agency (GAICL).
• Offers training and handholding support to SHGs and other existing units under GLPC.

 C.   Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY):

• A sub-scheme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Enables SHGs to operate road transport services in remote rural areas.
• Provides safe, affordable, and community-monitored rural transport services through CBO, and SHGs.
• Connects remote villages with essential services, promoting economic development and creating livelihood opportunities.

 D.   Micro Enterprise Development (MED):

• A component under SVEP to support SHGs and their family member enterprises in the non-farm sector.
• Provides necessary hand-holding and post-enterprise grounding support.
• Mobilizes & provided finance from the Community Investment Fund (CIF), Bank loan and through Convergence under NRLM, as well as banks/financial institutions.
• Supports SHG entrepreneurs with training, and capacity building for micro enterprises.

 E.   Convergence with other Departments and Corporates

• Collaboration between SHGs and multiple government departments and agencies.
• Initiatives include Plastic Waste Collection, Fair price shops, Electricity bill  and meter reading, Neem seed collection, education transport services, Canteen & Catering services, AMUL Dairy centres, and Sheetal ice cream shops
• These programs have empowered over 5.00 lakhs rural women in Gujarat through various non-farm livelihood activities, promoting entrepreneurship, market access, and sustainable economic growth in rural communities.