Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission plays a pivotal role in terms of organizing the urban poor and streamlining their activities in order that they get their due recognition and access to various government entitlements. Their activities in urban poverty alleviation, urban SHG formation and credit linkage, offering support for urban homeless through shelter creation and management, providing support for urban street vendors have been and transforming the landscape of urban livelihoods. Their activities play an important role towards creating a prosperous Tamil Nadu and here is wishing them the best in their endeavours.

Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission is marching towards the aim of creating a poverty free urban areas in the state with its various innovative initiatives spanning the areas of social mobilization, skill development and enterprise development amongst the urban poor. Their activities play an important role towards creating a prosperous Tamil Nadu and here is wishing them the best in their endeavours.

TNULM has been a frontrunner in the country in terms of various activities related to poverty alleviation in urban areas. The performance of the Mission till date is an case in point for design and delivery of poverty alleviation programs specifically suited for urban areas.

TNULM is best suited to deliver on the vision of poverty alleviation in Urban Tamil Nadu. It functions as a fulcrum for holistic empowerment of women SHGs in Urban Tamil Nadu. Innovative initiatives such as creating digitally smart SHGs, creating Urban Serve application for blue-collar professionals, mentoring SHG enterprises, supporting in branding and marketing of SHG products etc is transforming the way in which TNULM SHGs are making waves in the society.

TNULM is an important tool for poverty reduction with special focus on vulnerable sections of the society, such as the differently-abled, minorities, scheduled castes and tribe, conservancy workers etc. The Mission encourages group activities amongst the urban poor by its specially designed scheme of credit linkage under Self Employment Program.

The urban ecosystem presents unique challenges in the field of social mobilization and that is precisely what makes it interesting. With a huge ambitious population, ever searching for livelihood opportunities, creating a group mindset and making them function as a team to take forward their livelihood dreams makes TNULM a hugely satisfying mission to work for and am glad to be contributing towards its vision.

TNULM gives us the opportunity to impact thousands of lives in urban areas of my district. By forming them into SHGs, there is an identity that is created for the women members that gives them a platform to voice their opinion in various fora.

We make significant impact in the lives of urban poor by enabling them to access affordable credit linkage, thereby freeing them from the clutches of high interest private loans. This makes significant difference to monthly budget of BPL and middle class family members, who then divert their savings to more meaningful expenditure.

Our district is one of the newly formed districts and had huge scope for uplifting the lives of urban poor. Under the Mission, we have formed xxx number of SHGs and linked yyy of SHGs for credit. The effect of the Mission in transforming the lives of the bottom of the pyramid can be felt and seen in a district like ours.

In a progressive district like Salem, the Mission has been focussing on creating a visible impact in the livelihoods focussed on manufacturing and service sector oriented growth. We are pushing for SHG Enterprises to take center-stage and are mentoring them to take a profit oriented approach to business development. TNULM has been boon for enterprising SHGs in our district.

Who would have imagined that I, a 2nd generational street vending entrepreneur, could have accessed bank loan during COVID times, without a hassle. Thanks to TNULM for forming us into a Common Interest Group of Street Vendors and supporting us in vending activities and providing access to credit.

I have completed only basic degree but I got an opportunity to work as a Women Health Volunteer through TNULM SHG network. Today, I visit several urban poor households and screen them for various non-communicable diseases. Everytime I identify and refer a new patient or follow up for an existing diseases, I get an immense satisfaction of contributing to the health of the society. Thanks to TNULM for the opportunity.

We used to make masala powder and packaged dry fish from the confines of our house and market them using our peer network. We never knew that even we could receive credit support for our micro activity. From TNULM ALF network, We got to know of the PMFME scheme through which we received INR 40,000 each as seed capital for our business. This is the first official recognition for the tiny enterprise that we have started and would like to take forward.

We used to make masala powder and packaged dry fish from the confines of our house and market them using our peer network. We never knew that even we could receive credit support for our micro activity. From TNULM ALF network, We got to know of the PMFME scheme through which we received INR 40,000 each as seed capital for our business. This is the first official recognition for the tiny enterprise that we have started and would like to take forward.

Initially I found it difficult to reach banks for the small business I was doing. Community organizer from TNULM supported my request and helped liaison with the bank in getting me bank loan with interest subvention through TNULM.