Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has its origin from the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare.
• Two departments have been under the Ministry
  1. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya and Adhikarita Vibhag)
  2. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

1. Reservation to EWS

• Articles 15(6) and 16(6) were inserted in the Constitution by 103^rd Constitution Amendment Act 2019.
• These Articles enable the States to provide upto 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government jobs and government educational institutions.
• The Constitution bench in its majority judgment has upheld the validity of the Constitution 103^rdAmendment Act 2019.

To know more about the EWS reservation, click here

2. Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA)

• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was launched on 15th August 2020, in 272 districts that are most prone to usage drug in the country.
• Aim- To tackle the issue of substance abuse and a vision to make India drug free.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign is a three-pronged attack combining the efforts of Narcotics Control Bureau, Social Justice and Empowerment and Health Department.

• Navchetna Modules were developed for sensitizing students (6th -11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
• National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) is a scheme under which financial assistance is provided to governments, NGOs and government hospitals for drug demand reduction, awareness generation, capacity building, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.

3. Scholarship for Scheduled Castes

• Pre-matric scholarships
• National Fellowships for SC Students (NFSC)
• National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

4. PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)

• The scheme will cover Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and DNT students for pursuing studies from Class IX to XII in reputed school shortlisted by the government.
• The scheme is to be implemented through National Scholarship Portal.
• 30% of the slots shall be reserved for girl students.

5. Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM AJAY)

• PM-AJAY has been framed after merging the three erstwhile schemes
  • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
  • Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
  • Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
• The objectives of the scheme are
  • Reduce poverty of the SC communities
  • Improve socio-economic developmental indicators
  • Increase literacy and encourage enrollment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions

6. Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)

• The SHRESHTA scheme was launched to provide seats for the meritorious Scheduled Caste boys and girls in the best private residential schools in the country.
• Every year, it is expected that about 3000 students would be selected for admission in Class 9 and Class 11 under the scheme.
• The entire cost of the school fee and residential charges are borne by the Department.
• The students are selected through a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Students belonging to the SC community, whose parental annual income is upto Rs.2.5 lakh are eligible.

7. Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH)

• PM-DAKSH Yojana is a national action plan for skilling the marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EBC, Senior Citizens, DNTs, Safai karamcharies including waste pickers, and women.
• It provides skill development training programmes at free of cost on,
  • Up-skilling/Re-skilling
  • Short Term Training
  • Long Term Courses
  • Entrepreneurship Development Program

8. National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

• NAMASTE is a central sector scheme for improving the living standards of sanitation workers in urban areas.
• It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
• Objectives - It envisages safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by
  • Recognising sanitation workers as one of the key contributors in the maintenance of sanitation infrastructure
  • Providing them with sustainable livelihood
  • Enhancing their occupational safety through capacity building and improved access to safety gear and machines
• It aims at provide alternative livelihoods support and entitlements to reduce their vulnerabilities.

9. Transgender

• The Ministry enacted “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019” and the Rules, 2020.
• A National Council for Transgender Persons was constituted in 2020 to advise Government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons.
• Ministry has launched a National Portal for Transgender Persons in 2020 to obtain certificates and identity cards online without any physical interface with the office of issue.
• A MoU has been signed with National Health Authority for providing a comprehensive medical package to transgenders in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
• It would cover all aspects of transition related healthcare for transgender including hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery that can be redeemed at all private and government facilities.
• Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) - It aims to provide welfare and rehabilitation to transgenders and the people engaged in the act of begging.
• The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on.

10. Senior Citizens

• Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) - It is a central sector scheme under which grants in aid are given for running and maintenance of senior citizens homes, mobile medicare units etc.
• Elderline - The Ministry has launched National Helpline for Senior Citizens (Toll free No. 14567) in 2022.

To know about Part-2, click here

Reference

1. PIB | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment