On September 9th and 10th, 2024, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will convene a two-day National Review Conference, dubbed “Chintan Shivir,” at the Jaypee Palace Hotel & Convention Centre in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. This conference aims to evaluate the Ministry’s initiatives and craft an action plan to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vision 2047.”
The event will bring together Social Justice and Social Welfare Ministers from all States and Union Territories (UTs), senior officials, and key stakeholders to review and discuss the implementation of various schemes designed to uplift marginalized communities nationwide.
Conference Overview
Chaired by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, along with Union Ministers of State Shri B. L. Verma and Shri Ramdas Athawale, the conference will focus on evaluating the progress of major social justice programs and fostering coordination between the Central and State Governments/UTs.
Day 1: Economic, Educational, and Social Empowerment
- Economic Empowerment: Presentations will cover the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), aimed at the upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes, De-Notified Tribes, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Discussions will include the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PM-AGY) for rural development, Grants-in-Aid for states and districts, and hostel construction for disadvantaged students.
- Educational Empowerment: Focus will be on scholarship schemes for students from vulnerable backgrounds, including Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarships for SCs, and other programs like SHREYAS and PM-YASASVI, aimed at supporting higher education.
- Social Empowerment: The conference will review the implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Highlights include the National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) for senior citizens, as well as the National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
An evening cultural program and formal dinner will provide a chance for participants to reflect on the discussions and explore future collaborations.
Day 2: Continued Focus on Social Empowerment
The second day will feature presentations from selected states and UTs, sharing their strategies for social empowerment. Topics will include comprehensive rehabilitation for individuals engaged in begging, the welfare of De-Notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities, and the Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
Technical sessions will include discussions on Social Needs Assessment (SNA), capacity-building by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), and digital outreach improvements by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Additional presentations will cover the activities of key financial and development corporations under the Ministry, such as NSFDC, NBCFDC, NDFDC, and NSKFDC.
An interactive Q&A session with MoSJE officers and state officials will aim to refine implementation strategies. The conference will conclude with a Valedictory Session, where participating Ministers will share final remarks and strategies moving forward, followed by a Vote of Thanks and press interaction.
The conference will end with a visit to the Taj Mahal, providing a cultural experience and marking the close of Chintan Shivir 2024. This event aims to set the stage for impactful reforms and improvements benefiting millions in the years to come.
