National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), provided new lease of life to 133 BPL families

Jalandhar (Punjab) : With 133 below poverty line (BPL) families starting their own business ventures by getting loan under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), the scheme has provided a fresh lease of lives to many of them.

Kavita, a widow and a resident of Bhargo camp, used to stitch ladies suits at home and earn about Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 a month. Then she got to know about the NULM Scheme. “I applied for a loan of Rs 2 lakh under the scheme. After my loan was approved, I started a small business of unstitched ladies suits and bed sheets at my home only. Now, I am earning between Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month,” said an elated Kavita.

She also informed that the scheme has majorly helped her as she can now take care of her handicap child.

Another beneficiary Pawan Kumar was doing stitching work at home earlier. Then one of his friends told him about business of multi-cluster boxes. After getting trained in assembling the MCBs from local market, he applied for the loan under the NULM Scheme. Task Force Committee of the Municipal Corporation approved his loan of Rs 1 lakh. He then started assembling the MCBs at a rented space in the Bhargo Camp area. He also hired two workers for additional help. At present, he is supplying MCBs to local inverter batteries assemblers and electrical goods traders at Phagwara Gate.

“The scheme has given a fresh lease of life to my family. Now, we don’t have to sleep without food in the night. I am soon planning to extend my work by opening another outlet nearby,” said Pawan Kumar.

Deepak Kumar, a resident of Abadpura, was earlier doing labour work at various private firms and s used to shift jobs often. He later applied for the loan under the NULM Scheme. The task force committee of the Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar approved his loan amounting to Rs 1 lakh. After getting the loan, he started a small tea and refreshment shop at home. Presently, he along with his wife is running that shop and earn up to Rs 10,000 a month. Deepak Kumar said that having his own business has brought a lot of confidence in him.

Dr Nirmaljit Kaur, assistant project officer, NULM, Jalandhar, said besides giving individual loans, around 235 self help groups were also made under the scheme. Though the Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar has disbursed around Rs 3 lakh to around 30 self-help groups in the city, rest are still waiting for the one-time grant of Rs 10,000 due to non-release of funds by the state government.

“We have written to them to release the funds on urgent-basis as we are getting huge response in self-help groups as well. While last year, we had formed around 220 self-help groups in the city, this year we managed to take the numbers to 235,” said Dr Kaur.

She also informed that a full-fledged training school is also running under the project at Rama Mandi which is being maintained by a company empanelled by the department of local government.

“The school is providing training to over 55 students and majorly deals with computers training,” said Dr Kaur. She further said women have majorly opened boutiques and beauty parlors under NULM, men have mostly opened apparel shops and departmental stores under the scheme.

Persons, regardless of age, whose income is less than Rs 2 lakh per annum, are eligible under the NULM, which aims at providing sources of livelihood though skill development training. National Skill Development Council (NSDC) trainers would impart training in hospitality, tourism, retail and apparel business, mobile repairs, beauty parlours and local trades.

Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.