The Social Justice & Empowerment Division The focus of the Division in line with Challenges mentioned in the Resolution & Allocation of Business rules for setting up NITI Aayog and based on the basic premise of paying special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefiting adequately from economic progress, as stipulated in Rule 1 (i) e of the Allocation of Business Rules of NITI Aayog and amended Cabinet Resolution of the Cabinet dated 27th January, 2017. The Division act as a vital think tank and link with Central Ministries/ Departments, State/UTs and International agencies including UN Bodies and hold periodic reviews with different stakeholders involved in inclusive development of vulnerable sections of the society and monitor progress made in achieving development goals and addressing development deficits and to propose appropriate corrective measures. The Division in NITI Aayog will provide overall policy and guidance to frame comprehensive policies and programmes for inclusive empowerment and human capital development of underprivileged sections of the Indian society, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Safaikarmacharies (SKs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), Religious Minorities, Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and De-Notified Tribes (NT, SNT & DNTs), and Social Defence groups such as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Senior Citizens / Aged, Transgender, Victims of Substance Abuse / Drug Addicts, Destitutes and Beggars. The SJ & E Division is also responsible for making special policies / strategies for the most deprived within these vulnerable sections (viz. Marginal and diminishing Indigenous Communities, Manual Scavengers, Aged, Women and Children of destitution) including Scheduled Castes Sub- Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS A. Social Inclusion Groups I. Empowerment of Scheduled Castes (SCs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries in-respect of Scheduled Castes, State and UT Policies and Programmes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) of Central Ministries/ Departments and States/UTs, Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among Scheduled Castes. Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCA to SCSP) II. Empowerment of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries / Departments in-respect of empowerment of Other Backward Classes State and UT policies for Other Backward Classes Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among Other Backward Classes. III. Welfare of Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries in-respect of empowerment of Economically Backward Classes State and UT policies for Economically Backward Classes Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among Economically Backward Classes. IV. Empowerment of Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and De-Notified Tribes ( NT, SNT & DNTs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries in-respect of empowerment of NT, SNT & DNTs, State and UT policies for NT, SNT & DNTs, Periodic Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the NT, SNT & DNTs, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the NT, SNT & DNTs, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among NT, SNT & DNTs. V. Development of Scheduled Tribes (STs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries in-respect of STs, State and UT Policies and Programmes including specific projects like Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP), Modified Area Development Approach (MADA), Pockets clusters of Tribal concentration for Scheduled Tribes, Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) of Central Ministries / Departments and States/UTs, Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and other vulnerable Groups, Integrated Tribal Development Programme and Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas and Tribal Backward Regions Programmes and Left Wing Extremism Affected Tribal Areas Development, Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan and Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. VI. Empowerment of Minorities (Religious Minorities) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Ministry and line Ministries / Departments in-respect of empowerment of Religious Minorities State and UT policies for Religious Minorities Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among Religious Minorities. B. SOCIAL DEFENCE GROUPS I. Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Central Policies and programmes of Nodal Department and line Ministries in-respect of empowerment of PwDs State and UT policies for PwDs, National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, National Trusts for Handicapped, National Institutions for Handicapped, Periodic Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive development of underprivileged among PwDs. Disabilities ( Equality, Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation ) Act, 1995 II. Protection and Welfare of Aged / Senior Citizens, Central Sector Schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and other line Departments / Ministries. State /UT Policies for aged National Trust for Aged Periodic Monitoring and Evaluation of all policies and programmes being implemented for the sector, To undertake field visit to get the firsthand information on the policy implications and development deficits in the sector, Identification of priority areas / new strategies for inclusive protection, welfare and safeguard the interest of Senior Citizens, National Commission for Senior Citizens III. Rehabilitation & Resettlement of Drug Addicts, Central Sector policies and programmes for rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of substance abuse and policies for drug demand reduction, State/ UT policies and programmes for rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of substance abuse and policies for drug demand reduction, National Institution for Social Defence IV. Empowerment of Transgender, Central Sector policies and programmes for protection, welfare and empowerment of Transgender persons, State/UT policies and programmes for protection, welfare and empowerment of Transgender persons, National / State Institutions, Corporations, Boards for Transgender persons. V. Welfare & Rehabilitation of Destitutes and Beggars Central Sector policies and programmes for welfare and empowerment of Destitutes and Beggars, State/ UT policies and programmes for welfare and empowerment of Destitutes and Beggars, National / State Institutions / Corporations/ Boards for Destitutes and Beggars, B. OTHER FUNCTIONS Examination of SFC, EFC, COS and Cabinet/CCEA Notes of the Ministries of Social justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs, Research Advisory Committee of the Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment and Tribal Affairs Reports of the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SCs, STs, OBCs, EBCs, NT, SNT, & DNTs, PwDs, Social Justice and the related Parliamentary work, All the National/apex level Finance and Development Corporations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and PwDs such as NSFDC,NSKFDC,NSTFDC, NBCFDC, NHFDC and National Commissions, National Trusts, National Institutions, Boards, Trusts, Councils, Committees etc., Coordination of the work of all the Working Groups, Steering Committees and Consultative Committees and Task Force related to the welfare of SCs, STs, OBCs, EBCs, PwDs, Senior Citizens and others, Examination of research proposals referred by the different Research Institutes and other Policy matters referred to the NITI Aayog, Examination of Reports of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Manual Scavengers / Safai Karamcharis, Other Backward Classes, De-notified and Semi Nomadic and Nomadic Tribes, Senior Citizens etc, Information related to RTI Conferences, Seminars and Workshops on the subjects concerning of the sectors. National Policy for tribal, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy for tribal, Drug Addicts, Destitutes and other vulnerable groups, Identification and allocation of resources for priority areas for infrastructure and human capital development of disadvantaged including upliftment of skills and creation of livelihood opportunities to benefit the target groups to the greatest extent. Establishing convergence with different stakeholders involved in inclusive welfare and development of disadvantaged sections and social defence groups. D. Social Legislations The Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 The SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, 1989 The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 The National Commission for Backward Classes Act-1993 The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 The Persons with Disabilities Act.1995 / 2016 Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act-1996, The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999 Forest Rights Act, 2006 The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, The Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955 The Wakf Act, 1995 / 2013 E. Linked Ministries / Organisations: I. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Department of Social Justice & Empowerment Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities II. Ministry of Tribal Affairs III. Ministry of Minority Affairs F. Constitutional & Statutory Commissions National Commission for Scheduled Castes (338) National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (338-A) National Commission for Other Backward Classes National Commission for Safai Karmacharies Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities National Commission for NTs, SNTs & DNTs National Commission for Minorities G. National Institutions Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, National Institute of Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH), National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped (NIOH), Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training & Research (SVNIRTAR), National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), H. Councils / Foundations / Trusts Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation Dr. Ambedkar Foundation Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) I. Finance Corporation National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation (NSCFDC) National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation (NHFDC) National Safaikarmachari Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) J. Linked UN Agencies United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) World Bank International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asian Development Bank (ADB) World Health Organization (WHO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Labor Organization (ILO) United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ( UNESCAP) United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) F. Linked Other Agencies Department for International Development (DFID-UK) United States Agency for International Development (USAID) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Other International Agencies and NGOs, VOs, CVOs working in the field of Social Planning and Social Development.