HYDERABAD: The Telangana government is making significant strides in its mission to uplift rural communities, with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) having put forward proposals to the Central government for a major expansion of its inclusive livelihoods initiative. The Samaveshi Ajeevika Yojana (SAY), which operates under the broader Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), seeks to embrace an additional 8,000 extremely vulnerable households within the state.
Currently, the Telangana Inclusive Livelihoods Programme (TGILP), also a component of NRLM, already supports 6,000 rural households. These beneficiaries are drawn from the most marginalized segments of society, including Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), other tribal communities, Joginis (officially known as Devadasis), and other economically disadvantaged families.
Employing a highly effective ‘Graduation approach,’ the existing program has already identified 3,554 households across 70 villages for targeted interventions. This comprehensive support is designed to last for 36 months, ensuring sustainable progress.
Killi Jayaram, National Mission Manager for NRLM, emphasized the core goals of the program: “The primary objective is to enhance both the economic and social empowerment of rural poor households. It aims to provide comprehensive, inclusive livelihood interventions to foster long-term prosperity, self-confidence, and social inclusion.”
The current beneficiaries are located in specific mandals such as Narva in Narayanpet district, Tadvai and Kannaigudem in Mulugu, Amrabad and Padra in Nagarkurnool, Tiryani and Lingapur in Komram Bheem Asifabad, and Kodangal in Vikarabad district.
With a total budget of ₹30 crore allocated for a two-year period, the program offers essential coaching and consumption support grants, including crucial food baskets for six months, to the most impoverished households. The proposed expansion will extend the Samaveshi Ajeevika Yojana’s reach to another 8,000 households, covering existing mandals and new districts like Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, Adilabad, and Gadwal Jogulamba.
The implementation structure for the program involves multiple levels – mandal, district, and state. SERP is designated as the primary implementing agency, working in collaboration with partner organizations like BRAC International to ensure effective delivery.
As part of the DAY-NRLM, practical training in areas such as backyard poultry has already been provided to participants in Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district. The broader program is committed to fostering sustainable livelihoods, facilitating asset creation, and improving financial inclusion for all participants.
Divya Devarajan, CEO of SERP, highlighted the ground-level support mechanism: “A total of 108 dedicated coaches have already been deployed to provide direct support to participant households. These coaches are Self-Help Group (SHG) members from the same villages, ensuring a familiar and trusted hand-holding approach for 30-35 households each.”