Karya Aajivika and Jivika: Livelihood Empowerment Schemes in India

Karya Aajivika and Jivika: Empowering Livelihoods through Interventions

The Indian government's efforts towards poverty alleviation have been multi-faceted, with numerous schemes aimed at improving the overall quality of life for its citizens. Two such notable schemes are 'Kanyashree Prakalpa', which aims to empower young girls from poor families by providing them financial incentives for education and marriage, and 'National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)', which aims to create employment opportunities in rural areas. Additionally, there is the 'Jivanjyoti Yojana', which targets the health needs of women aged between 15 and 44 years living below the poverty line in rural India. These schemes demonstrate the government's commitment to addressing specific socioeconomic issues and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.

However, the focus of this article will be on two other significant initiatives: Karya Aajivika and Jivika. Both schemes aim to promote entrepreneurship, skill development, and income generation among the disadvantaged sections of society. Here, we explore their objectives, approaches, and impacts on livelihoods.

Karya Aajivika

Launched in 2006 under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Karya Aajivika is designed to empower unorganized sector workers and create viable livelihood options for them. It focuses on three key aspects:

1. Livelihood Programmes: These involve both formal and informal sectors and target self-help groups, village cooperatives, and individual entrepreneurs who want to start or expand their businesses.

2. Self-Employment Schemes: With funding support from NREGA, these schemes enable individuals or groups to set up small enterprises within their villages, promoting local community participation and economic growth.

3. Skill Development Initiatives: Vocational training programmes help beneficiaries acquire new skills needed to either find better jobs or establish their own microenterprises.

Through Karya Aajivika, the government provides financial assistance and technical guidance to facilitate business setup, expansion, and diversification. This has led to increased self-reliance and improved standards of living for many households participating in the scheme.

Jivika

Similar to Karya Aajivika, Jivika was launched in 2006 as part of NREGA to address the issue of growing unemployment and lack of skilled manpower in various trades across rural India. Its main goal is to generate sustainable sources of income via employment creation, particularly in the agriculture sector. Some highlights of Jivika include:

1. Vocational Training Opportunities: Specialized courses are offered to impart essential skills required for different trade occupations, helping participants gain employability and enhance their earning potential.

2. Income Generation Projects: Financial aid and resources are provided to assist participants in setting up microenterprises or undertaking activities like animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry farming, etc., thereby increasing household income levels.

By combining vocational training with access to markets and credit facilities, Jivika aims to make rural communities economically vibrant while reducing migration to urban centers due to job scarcity.

Impact Assessment of Karya Aajivika and Jivika

Both schemes have shown promising results in terms of creating employment opportunities, enhancing market linkages, and improving the standard of living for the targeted population. For instance, a study conducted by Singhal et al. found that around 90% of trained masons gained paid work within six months after completing the programme, indicating high success rates. Similarly, another report suggests that over 75% of those trained became self-employed or were employed in wage labor after completion.

Moreover, these schemes contribute significantly to social capital formation—the intangible network of relationships that people form in communities, which can lead to trustworthiness, reciprocity, and personal security. By fostering a culture of mutual cooperation and support, they strengthen social cohesion.

Conclusion

While Karya Aajivika and Jivika may seem like separate endeavors at first glance, both share the common objective of empowering marginalized communities through enterprise promotion, vocational skills enhancement, and income generation. Their impact extends beyond economic benefits; they also enrich the social fabric of communities by cultivating a sense of agency, ownership, and pride amongst participants. As more comprehensive data becomes available, further insights into the effectiveness and scalability of these interventions can guide policymakers towards refining existing programs or developing new ones tailored to specific demographic needs.