RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh will be honored with five national awards for its excellent work in Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission. State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) and four urban bodies of the state Bilaspur, Raigarh, Champa and Bhatapara have been selected by the Government of India for the prestigious ‘SPARK-2023-24’ awards.

The awards are being presented for excellent work in empowering urban poor families in the state and enhancing their livelihood opportunities. SUDA and the four urban bodies will be awarded at a function organized by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on July 18 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Minister of State Tokhan Sahu will present the awards.

Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao has congratulated SUDA and the team of the four urban bodies for the achievement. He said that the award given by the Government of India is a matter of honor for the state.

Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary, Urban Administration Department said that the National Urban Livelihood Mission is a mission committed to the economic and social empowerment of women and youth. Chhattisgarh is continuously performing well.

Chief Executive Officer of SUDA, Shashank Pandey said that the award is being given by the Government of India for the best work done in empowering the urban poor families and increasing their livelihood opportunities. Through the effective implementation of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission (DE-NULM), the urban bodies have significantly improved the lives of the urban population.

He said under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission, 2,653 women self-help groups have been formed in the year 2023-24. Of these, 1,532 groups have been provided with a recurring fund of Rs 1,53,20,000. Under social mobility and institutional development, work has been done towards women empowerment by forming 123 area level organizations and four city level associations.

Chhattisgarh Government and urban bodies and participation of groups, 47 shelter sites are being operated in 39 urban bodies of the state. Also four shelter sites are under construction. Under the Shelter Place component for the urban homeless, accommodation arrangements are being made for the urban homeless and others. Under the component Assistance to Urban Street Vendors, survey work was conducted in all urban bodies for the welfare of urban street vendors.

Identity cards and vending certificates were distributed to the surveyed street vendors. Under the scheme, identification of 25 vending zones, construction of nine vending markets and operation of vending markets was started.