Policy design of national rural livelihood mission (NRLM) - A critical assessment

Abstract

National Rural Livelihood mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation programme
introduced by Government of India (GOI) to provide sustainable livelihood to rural poor. The
programme adopts a mixed theory approach (both cyclical perspective and individual deficiency
theory) in addressing poverty. The present study empirically examines the effect of mixed theory
approach on the objectives of NRLM. Data are collected from 200 beneficiaries (of NRLM)
through a structured questionnaire from Sonepur district of Odisha (India). A livelihood security
index (LSI) is constructed to capture the livelihood securities of the respondents taking habitat
security, health security, food security and economic security into account. The study finds that
due to the introduction of mixed theory approach, beneficiaries are lacking behind the facilities
provided under the programme. The study further suggests for adopting a single theory
approach (cyclical perspective) alone to address poverty.