Antyodaya Diwas 2024

Antyodaya Diwas is an annual occasion in India commemorating the birth anniversary of Indian leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. India observes Antyodaya Diwas on September 25th to honor Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

About Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on September 25, 1916.
• His birth anniversary is observed every year on the same day as Antyodaya Diwas.
• Upadhyaya was the co-founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the forerunner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and was also one of the thinkers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
• He convened on September 21, 1951, a political convention of UP and founded the state unit of the new party, Bharatiya Jana Sangh. 
• He was the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1953 to 1968. 

Antyodaya Diwas Significance

1. Worked for Humanity

• Upadhyaya was a well-known philosopher who worked for the cause of the poor and needy and championed integral humanism.
• Also focussing on individual and collective welfare, social justice, economic equality, and self-reliance.

2. Antyodaya meaning

The term “Antyodaya” translates to “upliftment of the last person,” which is epitomizing Upadhyaya’s mission to address the needs of the most disadvantaged individuals in society, with the day marked by various activities aimed at promoting awareness and action towards uplifting the underprivileged.

3. Government’s appeals

On this occasion, the government appeals to the public on various welfare schemes that include  Antyodaya Anna Yojana which is a welfare scheme in which food grains are distributed among the poor families at cheaper rates and other rural welfare oriented programmes.

Scheme of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Aim

At creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.

Agenda

• NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federated institutions and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years.
• In addition, the poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements and public services, diversified risk and better social indicators of empowerment.

DAY – NRLM Values

• • Inclusion of the poorest, and meaningful role to the poorest in all the processes
  • Transparency and accountability of all processes and institutions
  • Ownership and key role of the poor and their institutions in all stages – planning, implementation, and, monitoring
  • Community self-reliance and self-dependence
  • Phased Implementation
  • Year wise break up in terms of coverage of districts and blocks as envisaged by NRLM.

Key Features

• Universal Social Mobilization
• Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP)  
• Financial Inclusion
• Community Funds as Resources in Perpetuity
• Livelihoods