Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

About Ministry

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is a Government of India ministry. It is responsible for welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, including scheduled castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), the disabled, the elderly, and the victims of drug abuse.
• Two departments have been created under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, namely:-

• • Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
    • The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment shall be the nodal Department for the overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for the development of the Scheduled Castes; Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Denotified Tribes; Economically Backward Classes; and Senior Citizens.

• • Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
    • Issues related to disability are addressed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, which falls under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The government of India has also enacted initiatives such as the Accessible India Campaign to make public spaces and transportation barrier-free for persons with disabilities.

 

SWACHHTA UDYAMI YOJANA

• Swachhta Udyami Yojana -‘Swachhta Se Sampannta Ki Aur’ was launched in 2014 under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Objectives 

• • It has twin objective of cleanliness and providing livelihood to Safai Karamcharis and liberate Manual Scavengers

Salient Features 

• • The Scheme has been launched on the 2nd October, 2014. National Safari Karmacharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is implementing the scheme.
  • It is for extending financial assistance for Construction, Operation & Maintenance of Pay and Use Community Toilets in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode and Procurement & Operation of Sanitation related Vehicles
  • Concessional loan for viable community toilet projects and sanitation related vehicles to collect the garbage, to consolidate the ongoing efforts for realising the objectives of the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’
  • Entrepreneurs among safai karmacharis and identified manual scavengers can avail loan upto defined ceiling at concessional rate of interest @ 4% per annum. In case of women beneficiaries, there is a rebate of 1% in the rate of interest charged.

 

SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR THE REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS (SRMS)

Objectives 

• • To assist the manual scavengers, identified during various surveys, for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations.

Salient Features 

• • It is a Central Sector Scheme. As per the revised Scheme, identified manual scavengers, one from each family, are provided one-time cash assistance.
  • Other benefits to the identified manual scavengers and their dependants.
  • Loans for project cost on concessional rates of interest.
  • Credit linked back-end capital subsidy.
  • Skill Development Training upto two years with stipend.

 

SUGAMYA BHARAT ABHIYAN/ ACCESSIBLE INDIA CAMPAIGN

• It is a nationwide campaign that aims to make barrier free environment for persons with disabilities to ensure universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living and participation in an inclusive society in all aspects of life.

Objectives

For achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Implementation

• By Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to which India is a signatory.

Key Strategies of the campaign

• Create Mass Awareness Capacity Building
• Interventions (Technology solutions, Legal framework, Resource generation)
• Leverage corporate sector efforts including CSR resources
• Leadership endorsements.

Salient Features 

• • 3 verticals of Campaign – For creating universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, the campaign has been divided into three verticals –
    1. Built Environment – Enhancing the proportion of accessible government buildings
    2. Transport – Enhancing proportion of accessible airports, railway stations and Public Transport
    3. Information & Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem –
       1. Enhancing proportion of accessible and usable public documents and websites
       2. Enhancing the pool of sign language interpreters
       3. Enhancing the proportion of daily captioning and sign-language interpretation of public television news programmes
  • Other initiatives under the scheme are-
    1. Organisations, both public and private are encouraged to use their CSR funds for building accessible infrastructure.  
    2. ‘Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index’ is to be used by the government to assess the effort of various industries on how they are making their workplace ready for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
    3. “Sugamya Pustakalaya” is an online library for Persons with print disabilities as part of the Accessible India (Sugamya Bharat) Campaign.

‘Divyang Sarathi’ mobile application

• • • The app is integral part of ICT component of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
    • For easy information dissemination to Divyangjans (Persons with disabilities) pertaining to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), including its various acts, rules, regulations and guidelines, etc.

Aim

• • • to empower the ‘Divyangjans’ by providing easier and convenient access of information pertaining to the schemes, scholarships, employment opportunities, statutes, institutional support systems.

Features

• • • Audio notes (text-to-voice conversion software) embedded in the application -adjustable font size which can be altered as per the user’s requirement
    • Bilingual e., information is available in Hindi as well as English – wider reach
    • Can be accessed by any Android smartphone User who may or may not have access to internet. Compliant with the principles of UNCRPD for Universal Access and with provisions of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

 

DEENDAYAL DISABLED REHABILITATION SCHEME (DDRS)

• It is the umbrella Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry, started in 1999

Objectives 

• • To create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
  • To encourage voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Salient Features

• • It is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India.
  • Implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
  • Provides financial assistance to facilitate delivery of various services to voluntary organizations’ grants-in-aid to NGOs.
  • Promotes voluntary action: parents/guardians and voluntary organisations are encouraged to provide rehabilitation services.
  • To make available the whole range of services necessary for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities
    • 1. Including early intervention
      2. Development of daily living skills, education
      3. Skill-development oriented towards employability
      4. Training and awareness generation.

Approach

• • To give Financial assistance (Grant in aid) to NGOs for providing the whole range of services to children/persons with disability
    1. programmes for pre-school and early intervention special education
    2. vocational training and placement community based rehabilitation manpower development
    3. psycho-social rehabilitation of persons with mental illness rehabilitation of leprosy-cured person

 

RASHTRIYA VAYOSHRI YOJANA

• Launched in 2017 for three years up to 2019-20.
• It is a central sector scheme, 100% centrally funded

Objectives

• • To help the Senior Citizens to overcome their age related physical impairment and to lead a dignified and productive life with minimal dependence on care givers or other members of the family.

Financing

• • The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund”

Target Beneficiaries

• • BPL senior citizens who are suffering from any of the age-related disability or infirmity i.e. low vision, loss of teeth, hearing impairment and locomotor disability.
  • As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.

Implementing agency

• • Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)

Salient Features 

• • Providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category for ex: Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and locomotor disability etc.
  • In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.
  • The Scheme is being implemented through the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as the sole Implementing Agency.
  • Assisted devices which will be distributed free of cost
    • Walking sticks, hearing aids, wheel chair, spectacles, Tripods/Quadpods, Elbow crutches, walkers/Crutches, Artificial dentures.
  • The assistive devices shall be of high quality and conforming to the standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards
  • These devices will be provided with free one-year maintenance by ALIMCO.
  • In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.

Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)

• • • ALIMCO is a Mini-ratna category-II under aegis of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
    • It is headquartered in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
    • It provides aids, appliances and components to around 2 lakh Disabled persons (PwDs) in the country every year.
    • It is the largest manufacturer of Aids and Appliances for PwDs in entire South Asia.
    • It also conducts camps under ADIP-SSA (Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing / fitting of aids / appliances- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) Cost Sharing Scheme in association with various States implementing Societies for provision of aids & appliances to children with special Needs of 6-14 years age.

 

SENIOR CITIZEN WELFARE FUND

• The fund was established through the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund Act, 2015 (SCWF) as part of the Finance Act, 2015, for promoting the welfare of the Senior Citizens

Funds

• • It will have funds from unclaimed deposits in small savings schemes including Post Office Savings Accounts, Public Provident Fund and Employees’ Provident Fund.
  • The money in accounts which have been inoperative for more than 7 years will be diverted in this fund.
  • Recently in 2017, as per the new direction from IRDA, insurance companies can no longer retain unclaimed amounts of policyholders if those accruals are more than 10 years old.
  • Such sums need to be, instead, transferred to the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund (SCWF) of the Centre.

Administration

• • The nodal Ministry for the Fund shall be the Ministry of Social Justice.
  • It will be administered by a Committee headed by Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment who shall be the ex-officio chairperson.
  • Other members will be officials from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Labour and Employment among others.

Utilization of fund

• • Fund shall be utilised for such schemes for promotion of the welfare of Senior citizens in line with the National Policy on Older Persons & National Policy on Senior Citizens.

 

INTEGRATED PROGRAMME FOR OLDER PERSONS (IPOP)

• Launched in 1992, as a Central Sector Scheme. Revised in 2008 and 2015 with new innovative projects for the welfare of Senior Citizens.

Objectives

• • to improve quality of life of senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter (Old age homes), food, medical care (mobile medicare units, Day care centres for Alzheimer’s disease /Dementia patients, physiotherapy clinics) and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building of Government/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) / local bodies and the community at large.

Implementation

• • Mainly implemented through Non-Governmental/Voluntary Organisations.

Scope

• • Assistance under the scheme will be given to the Panchayati Raj Institutions / local bodies and eligible Non-Governmental Voluntary Organizations for the following purposes:
    • Programmes catering to the basic needs of Older Persons particularly food, shelter and health care to the destitute elderly;
    • Programmes to build and strengthen intergenerational relationships particularly between children / youth and Older Persons;
    • Programmes for encouraging Active and Productive Ageing;
    • Programmes for proving Institutional as well as Non Institutional Care / Services to Older Persons;
    • Research, Advocacy and Awareness building programmes in the field of Ageing; and
    • Any other programmes in the best interests of Older Persons.

Financial Assistance

• • Up to 90% of the cost of the project indicated in the scheme will be provided by the Government of India and the remaining shall be borne by the Organization/ Institution concerned.

 

PRADHAN MANTRI ADARSH GRAM YOJANA

Objectives

• • To ensure integrated development of the selected 1000 villages with more than 50% SC population into “model villages” so that –
    • They have all requisite physical and social infrastructure for their socioeconomic development.
    • Disparity between SC and non-SC population in terms of common socioeconomic indicators (e.g. literacy rate, completion rate of elementary education, IMR/MMR, ownership of productive assets, etc.) is eliminated.
    • Untouchability, discrimination, segregation, and atrocities against SCs are eliminated, as are other social evils like discrimination against girls/women, alcoholism and substance (drugs) abuse, etc.

Coverage

• • Those districts which have villages having total population 2500 and with more than 50% persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

Salient Features 

• • Developing Adarsh Gram (Model Village)
    • These villages should be covered with all the facilities necessary for dignified living.
    • Important components include- physical infrastructure, sanitation and environment, Social Infrastructure, Human Development and Social Harmony and livelihood.
  • Integrated development of SC Majority Villages
  • Convergent implementation of the relevant Central and State Schemes.
  • For every new village selected, the Scheme provides for a total of Rs. 21 lakh of which Rs.20.00 lakh is for the ‘Gap-filling’ component and Rs.1.00 lakh is meant for ‘administrative expenses’ at the Centre, State, District and Village level in the ratio of 1:1:1:2.

 

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION (2018-2023)

Objectives 

• • It aims to employ a multi-pronged strategy such as
    • Preventive Education, awareness generation, counseling, deaddiction, treatment and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.
    • Training and capacity-building of service providers through collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and NGOs.

Salient Features 

• • Administrative Mechanism
    1. Coordination with implementing agencies for controlling sale of sedatives, painkillers and muscle relaxant drugs, and checking online sale of drugs by stringent monitoring by cyber cell.
    2. A multi ministerial steering committee with representatives from Ministries of Social Justice, Health, Home Affairs, Human Resource Development and skill.
  • Initiatives to be taken 
    1. Holding awareness generation programmes at educational institutes, workplaces and for police functionaries, etc.
    2. Increasing community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand by involving local bodies and other local groups like Mahila Mandals, self-help groups etc. is also planned.
    3. Modules for re-treatment, ongoing treatment and post-treatment of addicts of different categories and age groups and database on substance use.

Plan of Action

• • Inter-agency coordination – Coordination with implementing agencies for controlling the sale of sedatives, painkillers and muscle relaxant drugs.
  • Online Sale – checking online sale of drugs by stringent monitoring by the cyber cell.
  • Awareness – Holding awareness generation programmes and through social, print, digital and online media, and engagement of celebrities.
  • Toll- free Helpline – Strengthening the national toll-free helpline for drug prevention.
  • Role of Educational Institutes – Persuading principals, directors, vice chancellors of educational institutions to ensure that no drugs are sold within/nearby the campus
  • Role of Community – increasing community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand by involving Panchayati Raj institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and other local groups like Mahila Mandals, self-help groups.
  • Training – Focus on training and capacity-building of service providers through the collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and NGOs.
  • Multi ministerial steering committee with representatives from Ministries of Social Justice, Health, Home Affairs, Human Resource Development and Skill to monitor effective implementation of the NAPDDR.
  • Role of states and UTs – States and union territories to ensure facility of de-addiction centres in each district or as per prevalence of addiction, along with availability of treatment for drug dependents in prisons, juvenile homes and children homes.
  • Database on substance use/misuse to be maintained.

Golden Triangle It is the region between the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Golden Crescent It is the 2nd major area of illicit opium production in Asia spanning across three nations; Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. It is located at the crossroads of Central, South and Western Asia.

 

Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse and for Social Defence Services

• The scheme is in the field of drug demand reduction. The Scheme has two parts viz.
  • • Assistance for the Prevention of Alcoholism & Substance (Drugs) Abuse
    • Financial Assistance in the Field of Social Defence

Scope and financial assistance

• The Scheme of Assistance for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse is being implemented for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts through voluntary and other eligible organizations.
• Under this scheme, financial assistance up to 90% of the approved expenditure is given to the voluntary organizations and other eligible agencies for setting up/running Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs), Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs), for holding Awareness-cum-de-addiction camps (ACDC) and Workplace Prevention Programmes etc. In the case of North-Eastern States, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir, the quantum of assistance is 95% of the total admissible expenditure. The balance has to be borne by the implementing agency.
• The Scheme of ‘General Grant-in-Aid Programme for Financial Assistance in the Field of Social Defence’ aims to support such initiatives of an innovative/pilot nature in the area of welfare and empowerment of the Ministry’s target groups, as cannot be supported under its regular schemes. Financial assistance is given up to 90% of the approved expenditure to the voluntary and other eligible organizations. In case of an organization working in a relatively new area where both voluntary and Government effort is very limited but the need for the service is very great, the Government may bear up to 100% of the cost.

 

OTHER SCHEMES MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

 

 

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