Who Joins the Mission? Uncovering What Drives National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) Participation in Rural Assam, India

The National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) is a key poverty alleviation programme in India aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods through women-led Self-Help Groups. However, participation in NRLM varies widely across households and regions. This study examines the socio-economic and spatial determinants of household participation in NRLM in rural Assam using primary data from 405 households across three districts. A probit regression model is employed to identify factors influencing participation. The results indicate that education, family size, caste and distance to the nearest bank significantly affect the likelihood of participation. Higher education levels and belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes increase participation, reflecting the programme’s focus on social inclusion. Larger family size also raises participation, suggesting that greater livelihood needs motivate engagement. In contrast, greater distance from banking institutions reduces participation, highlighting financial access constraints in remote areas. Other factors such as age, dependency ratio, main occupation and distance to urban centres are not statistically significant. The findings highlight the need to improve financial accessibility and strengthen awareness to ensure more inclusive NRLM participation.