Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Year End Review 2022

• 27 Dec 2022

For Prelims: Initiatives by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

For Mains: Year End Review of Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Initiatives and Achievements of the Department

Why in News?

Recently, the year-end-review of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for the year 2022 was released.

What are Key Achievements of the Department?

• Reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS):
  • Articles 15(6) and 16(6) were inserted in the Constitution vide the Constitution 103^rd Amendment Act 2019.
    • These Articles enable the States to provide upto 10% reservation for the EWS in Government jobs and Government Educational Institutions.
  • The Supreme Court of India, in November 2022, has upheld the validity of the Constitution 103rd Amendment Act 2019.
• Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA):
  • NMBA was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is being implemented in 372 most vulnerable districts based on the findings of the first Comprehensive National Survey and inputs from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
  • It intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with focus on higher educational Institution, university campuses & schools, reaching out & identifying dependent population.
  • Achievements:
    • Around 9.3 crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 3 Crore Youth and 2 Crore Women.
    • Events like 'Nashe se Azaadi- A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme', ‘Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, ‘NMBA Interaction with NCC’ are regularly organized to engage and connect with youth and other stakeholders.
    • National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) is a scheme under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments, UT Administration, NGOs/VOs and Government Hospitals for different programmes for Drug Demand Reduction for Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Counselling, Treatment and rehabilitation.
• Pre & Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes:
  • National Overseas Scholarship Scheme:
    • Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) is implementing the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for Scheduled Caste etc. under which financial assistance is provided to selected students from Scheduled Castes, De notified, Nomadic & Semi - Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural laborers and traditional artisan categories, for pursuing Masters and PhD level courses abroad.
    • Number of seats under NOS has been increased from 100 to 125 with effect from 2021-22.
  • National Fellowships for SC Students (NFSC):
    • The objective of the Scheme is to provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Caste category to pursue higher studies leading to M. Phil., Ph.D. in Science, Humanities and Social Science streams, in Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM AJAY):
  • It has been framed after merging the three erstwhile schemes namely:
    • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
    • Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
    • Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
  • Developments:
    • Grants-in-Aid Component (Erstwhile SCA to SCSP):
      • The financial Assistance has been enhanced from Rs.10,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- or 50% of the asset cost, whichever is lesser for beneficiary/ household.
      • Web based portal has been developed for submission, appraisal, and approval and monitoring of Annual Action Plan through portal.
• National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC):
  • NBCFDC was incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 in 1992 (now section 8 of Companies Act 2013) as a Company not for profit with an objective to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
  • Achievements:
    • During the year 2022 (Jan-Nov 2022), NBCFDC disbursed funds of Rs. 418 Crores for more than 1.2 lakh beneficiaries.
• Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF):
  • DAF has launched a new scheme Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE), which has been implemented in 30 Central Universities throughout the country, for coaching of Scheduled Caste students for Civil Services Examination (CSE).
  • Dr. Ambedkar Medical Scheme was implemented successfully with 173 beneficiaries.
  • Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through inter Caste Marriages benefitted 218 beneficiaries.
• Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):
  • The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements the Central Sector Scheme of “Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary and other Organizations working for Scheduled Castes” under which financial assistance is provided to the NGOs for projects related to the Education sector to Scheduled Caste students.
  • The scheme has been revised with effect from 2022-23 as (SHRESHTA) and a new component under Mode-I has been added to the Scheme, under which every year a specified number of meritorious SC students in the country will be selected for quality residential education in top-class residential High Schools through a nation-wide entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM DAKSH) Scheme:
  • Under the PM DAKSH Scheme, skills are provided to marginalized persons covering SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, Sanitation workers including waste pickers, through Corporations (NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC) under the Department of SJE.
  • Under it, NSFDC’s target is to provide skill training of 20,600 during 2022-23.
  • Achievements:
    • During 2022, NBCFDC has sanctioned skill development training programmes for 19553 trainees.
• National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE):
  • Achievements of NAMASTE:
    • Coverage of 3944 manual scavengers/dependants under various Skill Development Training programmes.
    • Covered 8396 sanitation workers under RPL/Upskilling training programme.
    • Provided assistance of Rs. 8.17 crore to 445 manual scavengers/dependants for general self-employment programme.
• Transgender:
  • A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with National Health Authority in 2022 for providing a comprehensive Medical package to Transgender Persons in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
  • The Comprehensive Package would cover all aspects of transition related healthcare for Transgender persons. It will also (not exhaustive) provide coverage for hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery inclusive of post operation formalities which can be redeemed at all private and government healthcare facilities.

Source: PIB