YEAR-END REVIEW 2024
YEAR-END REVIEW 2024
Given below is a snapshot of the Key Initiatives and Achievements of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (D/o SJ&E), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the year 2024.
D/o SJ&E implements two Centrally Sponsored Scholarships Schemes viz. (i) Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for SCs & Others; and (ii) Post-Matric Scholarships Scheme for SC Students (PMS-SC), through the State Governments/ UT Administrations.
Achievement under the scheme
SHREYAS-SC consists of four Sub-schemes viz. Free coaching scheme for SCs and OBCs, Top Class Education for SCs, National overseas Scholarship Scheme for SCs etc. and National Fellowship for SCs.
Under this scheme, scholarships are provided to SC students for pursuing studies beyond the 12th class. The scheme supports talented students studying at 266 top-class premier institutions in the country. 30% of the slots allotted to the institution are reserved for eligible SC girl students based on their inter-se merit.
Achievement under the scheme
The objective of this scheme is to provide good-quality coaching to economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to help them appear in competitive and entrance examinations. Since 2023-24, the scheme is being run by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), the Central Nodal Agency, through the Dr. Ambedkar Centre for Excellence (DACE) established in 19 empaneled Central Universities.
Achievement under the scheme
Under the NOS, financial assistance is provided to low-income students belonging to the SCs (115 slots), De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (6 slots), Landless Agricultural Labourers (4 slots), and Traditional Artisans categories to pursue higher education, such as a Master’s degree or Ph.D. course, abroad. 30% of the scholarships for each selection year are earmarked for female candidates.
Achievement under the scheme
Under this scheme, fellowships are provided to SC students pursuing higher education leading to Ph.D. degrees in Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences in Indian Universities, Institutions, and Colleges recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The scheme provides 2000 new slots every year (500 for the science stream and 1500 for Humanities and Social Sciences) for SC students who have qualified the National Eligibility Test – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC or UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) NET-JRF joint test.
Achievement under the scheme
The Department has been implementing SRESHTA to enhance the reach of education through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools offering high quality education; socio economic upliftment and overall development of the SCs. The scheme is being implemented in two modes.
In Mode-I, each year a specified number (3000) of meritorious SC students in States/UTs are selected through the National Entrance Test for SRESHTA (NETS) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and admitted in the best private residential schools affiliated by CBSE/State Boards in classes 9th and 1lth.
In Mode-2, financial assistance is provided to the NGOs for running the schools/hostel projects related to the Education sector to SC students. The Scheme broadly covers 3 types of projects namely (i) Residential Schools (ii) Non- Residential Schools and (iii) Hostels, both for Primary and Secondary Students.
Under this scheme, total 2961 students have been selected for admission in 142 Private Residential Schools affiliated by CBSE/State Boards for academic session 2024-25 and school fee of an amount of Rs. 64.00 Cr is reimbursed by the Department.
Achievement under the scheme
*2942 students carry forward from selected during 2023-24, 2022-23 and 2021-2022 in Mode-I
The Department under PM-AJAY merged three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes, namely, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY) in 2021-22 with an aim to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives; and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages. The Scheme has now the following three components
Achievement under the scheme
Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide admissible Central Assistance to States/UTs for effective implementation of the above Acts, mainly for:
Achievement under the Scheme/Act
Achievement under the scheme
Union Budget 2014-15 introduced the establishment of a VCF to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes (SCs), by providing concessional finance to SC entrepreneurs. IFCI manages the fund, which was launched on 16.01.2015, with a total corpus of ₹750 Cr. Assistance ranges from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 crore, with a concessional interest rate of 4% p.a. (3.75% for women and Divyang SC entrepreneurs).
Sanctions and Disbursements (as of 15.11.2024):
AMBEDKAR SOCIAL INNOVATION AND INCUBATION MISSION (ASIIM): Launched on 30.09.2020, under VCF-SC, ASIIM promotes innovation among SC students, researchers, and those working with technology business incubators and Atal Incubation Centers. The scheme aligns with the ‘Stand Up India’ initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fund assistance up to ₹30 lakh is provided to youth beneficiaries.
Sanctions and Disbursements (as of 15.11.2024):
PM-YASASVI and SHREYAS are the two umbrella schemes for welfare of Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Class (EBC) & De-Notified Tribes (DNT) students and one Scheme for DNTs.
Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment presided over the foundation ceremony for construction of 2 Hostels in Manipur (100-seater each for OBC Boys & Girls) and inauguration of 6 Hostels with 746 seats in other States across the country, on 28.02.2024.
S.No.
Name of Event/Exhibition
Duration
No. of Benef./State Participated
No. of
Beneficiaries
States
1.
Aatmairbhar Bharat, (Delhi)
03-10 Jan 24
37
Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand,
2.
Goa Lokutsav Mela
09-17 Jan. 24
05
Gujarat, Goa, Kerala
3.
Shilp Samagam Mela, Amritsar (Punjab)
12-21 Jan. 24
68
Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
4.
Shilp Samagam Mela, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
12-20 Jan. 24
25
Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat.
5.
Suraj Kund International Craft Mela, Faridabad, Haryana
02-18 Feb. 24
29
Assam, Delhi, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand.
6.
Shilp Samagam Mela, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
29 Feb.–08 Mar. 24
25
Assam, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
7.
Shilp Samagam Mela (Dilli Haat, INA), Delhi.
1-15 Nov. 2024
35
Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal, Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
8.
India International Trade Fair, Pragati Maidan, Delhi.
14-27 Nov. 2024
31
Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura.
Initiated on 01.10.2019, this scheme mirrors the VCF-SC, for promoting entrepreneurship among the Backward Classes (BCs). The total corpus is ₹176.74 Crore, and assistance ranges from ₹20 lakh to ₹15 crore, with a 6% interest rate.
Sanctions and Disbursements (as of 15.11.2024):
VISVAS: VISVAS Yojana is an initiative of the department to support livelihood activities for marginalized SC, OBC, and Safai Karamcharis (including manual scavengers and waste pickers) with a 5% interest subvention on income-generating loans. Individual and SHG loanees (with at least 70% target group members) with standard accounts in PSBs, RRBs, private banks, small finance banks, and similar institutions are eligible for this benefit. All subvention claims from lending institutions are processed via the PM SURAJ portal. This includes, apart from VISVAS, the lending schemes of Corporations and the Venture Capital Fund.
The scheme is being implemented by the three Corporations under the administrative control of D/o SJ&E, namely National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
Implementation:
Budget & Beneficiaries: A total budget of Rs. 251 Cr is allocated for 2024-25 and 2025-26, targeting 15 lakh beneficiaries.
DWBDNC constituted vide Gazette Notification dated 21st February, 2019 for the objectives including to formulate, implement, review Welfare and Development programmes, as required for DNT communities, after identifying gaps in accessing existing programmes and entitlements.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED):
DWBDNC is implementing a scheme namely, Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED), launched on 16.02.2022. The scheme has four components namely:
Achievement under the scheme
A Central Sector Scheme, implemented from FY 2023-24 as a joint initiative of the M/o SJ&E and the MoHUA. The scheme envisages safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by providing sustainable livelihood. Components of erstwhile Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) have been subsumed in NAMASTE scheme from 2023-24. Further, waste pickers have been added as a target group under NAMASTE in FY 2024-25.
Achievement under the scheme
During 01.01.2024 – 05.12.2024, NSKFDC has sanctioned and released concessional loans amounting Rs. 242.66 Cr for covering 40,942 beneficiaries. Out of above, Rs.239.69 Crore has been disbursed for covering 40,803 women beneficiaries under Mahila Samridhi Yojana (MSY) and Mahila Adhikarita Yojana (MAY) of NSKFDC.
NCSK has continued efforts for ensuring the dignity, observance of the rights and welfare of the sanitation workers through meetings at State level and follow up communications emphasising on the following:
These efforts have resulted in:
PM-DAKSH Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched during 2020-21. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance competency level of the target groups (SCs, OBCs, EWSs, DNTs, Safai Karamcharis including waste pickers etc. to make them employable both in self- employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development.
Achievement under the scheme
The DoSJE has formulated and is implementing National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), a centrally sponsored scheme under which financial assistance is provided to:
From the launch of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 2020, NMBA has reached out to more than 13.57 crore people including 4.42 crore youth and 2.71 crore women. More than 3.85 lakh educational institutions have also participated in this Abhiyaan.
Progress (as of 15.11.2024):
Achievement under the scheme
The T&B Division of NISD has implemented impactful programs to support marginalized communities, by emphasizing empowerment, rehabilitation, and social integration of persons engaged in begging and the transgender community. Initiatives of the division during 2024 include:
Achievement under the scheme
Achievement under the scheme
(* Cases dealt up to April, 2023, after that the scheme has been merged with Ministry)
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) And Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM)
Special Lecture /National Seminar/ Activities / Achievements of DAIC:
(i) Special Lectures:
(ii) National Seminars
(iii) Activities / Achievements:
- INITIATIVES FOR THE WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTE