Ministry of Social Justice 12-Year Achievement Report
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment released a comprehensive review marking 12 years of achievements, highlighting a paradigm shift from basic welfare to empowerment through digital interventions, legislative safety nets, and targeted livelihood opportunities. The Ministry has directly impacted over 11 crore students, senior citizens, transgender persons, and marginalized communities across India since 2014 with investments exceeding ₹71,000 crore.
Educational Assistance Transformation
A multi-layered digital architecture overhauled educational assistance delivery by transitioning to a Direct Benefit Transfer model linked with Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts from FY 2021-22, eliminating leakages and institutional delays. The flagship Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes supported 6.12 crore students with ₹46,581.54 crore investment. The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme secured education for 2.99 crore vulnerable students with ₹4,893.03 crore funding. Under the PM-YASASVI scheme, over 1,069 lakh students from OBC, EBC, and DNT communities received financial assistance, residential hostel infrastructure, and premier school placements totaling ₹15,555.53 crore.
Legislative Protections and Justice Systems
Major amendments to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act established Exclusive Special Courts, set up Victim Rights frameworks, and raised relief amounts. Since 2014, ₹5,012.17 crore has been released, directly supporting 7.26 lakh atrocity victims. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan reached 26.28 crore citizens, including 9.56 crore youth, through partnerships with spiritual bodies and digital dashboards.
Specialized Care Frameworks
Under Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana, senior care transitioned from charity to institutional right with 8.53 lakh elderly persons receiving 46.32 lakh free assistive living devices through Rashtriya Vayoshri camps. The national Elderline (14567) resolved over 29 lakh calls. The SMILE scheme extended legal and economic identity to transgender persons through a unified National Portal, issuing 33,189 certificates, setting up operational 'Garima Greh' shelters, and integrating gender-affirmation procedures into Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) framework.
Economic Empowerment and Sanitation Reform
Venture Capital Funds for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes approved over ₹750 crore to establish competitive businesses, creating direct employment for thousands. The NAMASTE scheme championed complete mechanization of sewer cleaning to replace manual practices, deploying ₹2,383.06 crore in concessional finance to guarantee safety and professional dignity for 3.42 lakh sanitation workers across India.