Year-end Review | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

About the Ministry

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has its origin from the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare.

• The Ministry is entrusted with the welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections.
• The marginalized sections includes scheduled and backward classes, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of drug abuse, transgender and so on.
• Union minister – Dr. Virendra Kumar.
• Secretary　of Department of Social Justice& Empowerment – Shri Amit Yadav (IAS).
• Secretary　of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities – Rajesh Aggarwal (IAS).

Schemes and initiatives by the ministry

Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship

• The Pre & Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme – Is provided for SC, ST and OBC students for educational empowerment of students of above categories.
• They are implemented through the State Governments/ UT Administrations.
• They are Centrally Sponsored Scholarships Schemes.

SHREYAS – Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme

• SHREYAS scheme for SC, consists of 4 Sub-schemes, which are:
  1. Free coaching scheme for SCs and OBCs
  2. Top Class Education for SCs
  3. National overseas Scholarship Scheme for SCs etc
  4. National Fellowship for SCs

SRESHTA – Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas

• Aim – To improve the educational and socioeconomic conditions of Scheduled Castes (SCs) through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools.

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (PCR Act) prohibits the practice of untouchability and punishes those who enforce disabilities arising from it.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

• Aim – To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.
• Launched in – 2021-22.

Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC)

• Aim – To promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes (SCs), by providing concessional finance to SC entrepreneurs.
• Established – Union Budget 2014-15.
• Fund Managed – By the Industrial Finance Corporation of India with a total corpus of RS 750 Cr.

Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM)

• Aim – To promote innovation among SC students, researchers, and those working with technology business incubators and Atal Incubation Centres.
• Fund assistance up to Rs 30 lakh is provided to youth beneficiaries.
• Launched on – 30.09.2020.
• The scheme aligns with the 'Stand Up India' initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• It was launched under the VCF-SC.

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

• PM YASASVI – Is a flagship initiative by the Government of India, aimed at providing scholarships to students.
• Vision – Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, means together with all, development for all.

Traditional Artisans Upliftment Livelihood Promotion Programme (TULIP)

• Launched on – 05 November 2024.
• About – TULIP is a Digital Platform for Craft and Community Empowerment.
• It will provide a platform for economic self-reliance and global exposure to artisans via an e-marketplace.
• The launch of TULIP products in the domestic market places will be completed by January 2025.

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

• Aim – To enhance competency level of the target groups to make them employable both in self- employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development.
• Objective – To increase family income of marginalised people by increasing skill levels of the target youth by providing short term skill training followed by engagement in wage/self- employment.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme that was launched during 2020-21.

References

1. PIB | Year-end review 2024
2. About| NSKFDC
3. About| Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment