The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has introduced an innovative program called “Million Designers, Billion Dreams,” aimed at empowering individuals across India with systems design expertise to address complex societal challenges. This initiative is led by LEAP in collaboration with DAY-NRLM and is supported by the multidisciplinary work developed by the Design Laboratory at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (D-Lab) and the Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF), with seed investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Launch Event and Key Participants
The launch event featured senior officials from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), including representatives from the National Mission Management Unit (NMMU) and experts from LEAP and TRIF. The event included a presentation on the program’s vision, emphasizing its potential impact on rural communities across India. State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) leaders joined the event online, engaging in discussions on the initiative’s expected outcomes.
Objectives and Vision of “Million Designers, Billion Dreams”
The “Million Designers, Billion Dreams” initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of rural leaders, frontline change agents, and village entrepreneurs by providing them with systems design education. The program’s primary goals are:
- Enhancing Design Proficiency: Equipping participants with design frameworks to drive systems change.
- Promoting Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address complex challenges.
- Building Confidence and Agency: Fostering creativity and ownership to shape better futures.
Expected Outcomes
This initiative is expected to create a new generation of rural leaders skilled in systems design, driving innovation across various sectors. Key anticipated outcomes include:
- Development of Solutions: Producing solutions that improve quality of life and promote economic growth.
- Adoption of Sustainable Practices: Addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges through sustainable approaches.
- Global Leadership in Design: Positioning India as a global leader in design and innovation.
About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
The DAY-NRLM is a flagship poverty alleviation program launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2011. It was restructured from the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) and later renamed in 2015. The mission aims to empower rural poor women by organizing them into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and providing them with access to financial, technical, and marketing resources. As of June 2024, the program has mobilized over 10 crore women into more than 90 lakh SHGs across 28 states and 6 union territories.
DAY-NRLM focuses on enhancing livelihoods through both farm and non-farm activities, promoting financial inclusion, and facilitating access to government schemes. The mission’s comprehensive approach includes training SHG women as Banking Correspondent Sakhis, supporting micro-enterprises, and fostering community institutions to drive sustainable development in rural areas
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