Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Showcases Swachhta Udyami Yojana Success Story
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment published a case study demonstrating the impact of the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) on improving livelihoods of disadvantaged communities. The document features Mekala Nancharamma, a 30-year-old Scheduled Tribe woman from Guntur who worked as a waste picker for nearly 12 years in the Guntur Municipal Corporation.
Ms. Nancharamma came from an economically disadvantaged family that compelled her to take up waste-picking work at a young age. She remained illiterate due to severe financial hardship preventing school attendance. Her livelihood depended entirely on waste picking, which provided limited and irregular income, making it difficult to meet household expenses and secure better opportunities for her children. She lived in a slum environment with limited access to basic amenities and faced social exclusion and discrimination.
Through Navajeevan Organisation, Ms. Nancharamma received assistance under the Swachhta Udyami Yojana via a group project involving two members. The project provided financial assistance for procurement of an Open Nallah Cleaner (Tractor-Mounted) with a total project cost of ₹16,99,952. This comprised a loan component of ₹10,24,964 and a capital subsidy of ₹6,74,988.
The mechanized equipment enabled her to move beyond traditional waste-picking activities and participate in a more organized livelihood. Her monthly income increased significantly from approximately ₹8,000 before the intervention to around ₹18,000, representing an additional ₹10,000 per month from the new equipment. This income improvement has strengthened her family's financial security, allowing better management of household expenses, support for children's education, and improved overall standard of living.
Ms. Nancharamma stated that the support helped her move beyond traditional waste-picking work, earn more stable income, and gain greater confidence and dignity. The case study demonstrates how targeted financial assistance, access to mechanized equipment, and sustainable livelihood opportunities can help vulnerable communities move toward economic independence and self-reliance.
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