Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Holds Daylong Western Zone Regional Review Meeting In Diu

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, convened a day long Regional Review Meeting (RRM) in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNH&DD), to undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation of major welfare, social empowerment and social defence schemes in the Western Zone of the country, here today.

Key developments

The Meeting brought together senior representatives from the States of Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with senior officers of the Union Territory Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant, chaired the meeting and outlined the key implementation priorities and objectives of the Regional Review Meeting.

Under the guidance of Hon'ble Administrator of UT of DNH&DD Shri Praful Patel, several senior officers participated in the Regional Review Meeting.

Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Shri Ashish Mohan, Collector, Diu Shri Rahul Dev Boora and Director-cum-Deputy Secretary, Social Welfare Department Shri Puneet Kulshreshtha, were among other senior officers of the UT who attended the Review Meeting.

Senior representatives from the participating States including Shri Lalit Kumar, Director Department of Social Welfare, Government of Rajasthan; Shri Dipak Desai, Director Department of Social Welfare, Government of Goa; Ms Deepa Mudhol Mundhe, Commissioner, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra and Ms Sonali Mule, Director under Government of Maharashtra, participated in the deliberations.

Senior officers from the Ministry including the Additional Secretary Smt. Debolina Thakur, along with Joint Secretaries Shri Sajeesh Kumar N, Shri Parveen Kumar Thind, Dr. Sandeep Rewaji Rathod, Deputy Director General, Smt. Pratima Gupta and Director, Shri Gaurav Singh Rajawat, attended the Meeting.

Chairing the Meeting, Shri Sudhansh Pant said the Regional Review Meeting is aimed at strengthening institutional coordination between the Ministry, the participating States and the Union Territory Administration and ensuring effective, transparent, accountable and outcome-oriented implementation of social justice and empowerment programmes, with particular emphasis on last-mile delivery, beneficiary coverage and saturation, efficient utilization of resources and measurable outcomes.

He said the Meeting provides an institutional platform for a scheme-wise assessment of progress, identification of implementation gaps and challenges, sharing of best practices and formulation of time-bound corrective and follow-up measures to improve the delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.

Shri Pant exuded confidence that the mechanism of Regional Review Meeting is expected to further strengthen the institutional framework for effective implementation of social justice, social empowerment and social defence programmes in the Western Region.

The Secretary said that the Meeting reinforces the Government's commitment to inclusive development, social protection, dignity, equal opportunity and empowerment of vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society, with a continued focus on ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach the last mile.

The Regional Review Meeting undertook a detailed scheme-wise review of major programmes of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, including the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), measures for strengthening the enforcement machinery under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

Background and details

The review assessed physical and financial progress, beneficiary coverage and saturation, utilization of funds, institutional mechanisms, implementation of statutory safeguards, awareness and outreach measures, rehabilitation and social reintegration initiatives, as well as convergence with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA).

A detailed discussion and open-house session provided an opportunity to examine implementation challenges and identify practical solutions relating to beneficiary identification and saturation, inter-departmental convergence, monitoring and data management, fund utilization, grievance redressal and dissemination of best practices and replicable models. The session also focussed on evolving time-bound corrective measures wherever required.

The day-long deliberations covered key welfare and social empowerment initiatives, including Scholarship Schemes, Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE).

The review of Scholarship Schemes focussed on beneficiary coverage, application and verification processes, timely disbursement of assistance, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-related issues and measures to strengthen outreach among eligible students, particularly those who remain outside the existing coverage.

Under AVYAY, the review assessed initiatives relating to the welfare, protection and empowerment of senior citizens, including institutional care, active ageing, social security, accessibility, support services and convergence with programmes and interventions of the Union Territory Administration.

The review of NAMASTE focussed on the identification and profiling of sanitation workers and waste pickers, occupational safety and dignity, ensuring zero fatalities during sanitation work, access to social security and health benefits, mechanization of sanitation operations, capacity building, livelihood support and convergence with other welfare and social protection schemes.

A dedicated Outcome Review Session assessed the extent of coverage and saturation of eligible beneficiaries, quality and timeliness of service delivery, implementation bottlenecks, awareness and outreach mechanisms, technology-enabled monitoring, grievance redressal and feedback systems, and convergence between Central Government schemes and programmes implemented by the States and Union Territory Administration.

Particular emphasis was placed on last-mile delivery and measurable outcomes, with the objective of ensuring that government interventions translate into tangible improvements in the lives of intended beneficiaries.

The meeting identified priority interventions and specific action points and takeaways for the participating States and the Union Territory, with emphasis on strengthening implementation mechanisms, improving outreach, addressing gaps in beneficiary identification and ensuring timely and transparent delivery of benefits.

The concluding session focused on consolidating the key observations, priorities and recommendations emerging from the deliberations. The Way Forward included finalization of action points and responsibilities, strengthening coordination between the Ministry, States and Union Territory Administration, time-bound resolution of implementation issues, improved monitoring of physical and financial progress and submission of follow-up Action Taken Reports (ATRs) by the concerned authorities.

Commitment To NMBA, Senior Citizens’ Respect & Welfare

Secretary Sudhansh Pant administered Senior Citizen Pledge and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Pledge, to the participants during the Meeting, reiterating adopting and strengthening the Whole of the Government and Whole of the Society approach for the Nasha Mukt Viksit Bharat and upholding and consolidation of the social values to uphold honour, dignity, welfare and healthcare of the Senior Citizenry, across the country.