Lok Sabha Question No. 1999 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Social Welfare Programmes in West Bengal
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1999 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN WEST BENGAL

## 1999. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of social welfare programmes in West Bengal aimed at supporting marginalized communities, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and persons with disabilities;
- (b) the initiatives taken to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women in the State;
- (c) the measures being implemented to improve access to education, healthcare and employment for underprivileged groups in West Bengal; and
- (d) the progress of programmes aimed at enhancing social inclusion and reducing economic disparities within the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have been implementing various social welfare programmes for marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Persons with Disabilities. These programmes inter-alia aim to promote social inclusion, reduce economic disparities, and improve access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for underprivileged groups across the country, including in the State of West Bengal. The details of these schemes are provided in the Annexure-I.

Further, Government has taken several initiatives to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women. Some majors initiatives taken by the Government in this regard are at Annexure-Il.

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Annexure-I referred to in reply to part (a to d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1999 for answer on 11.03.2025, raised by Shri Jagannath Sarkar

Details of Programmes/Schemes being implemented by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE)

| S.No.   | Programmes/Schemes                                                                                                      |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Post Matric Scholarship for SCs                                                                                         |
| 2       | Pre Matric for SCs and Other                                                                                            |
| 3       | Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme(SHREYAS)                                                   |
|         | Pradhan Mantri AnusuchitJaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY)                                                                  |
| 5       | Strengthening of machinery for Enforcement of Protection of Civil Right Act 1955 and Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 |
| 6       | Scheme of Residential Education for Students in High School in Targeted Area (SRESHTA)                                  |
| 7       | National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)                                                           |
| 8       | Venture Capital Funds for SCs                                                                                           |
| 9       | Venture Capital Fund for Backward Classes                                                                               |
| 10      | Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur KushaltaSampannHitgrahi (PM DAKSH) Yojana for SCs                                            |
| 11      | Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur KushaltaSampannHitgrahi (PM DAKSH) Yojana for OBCs                                           |
| 12      | Atal Vayo Abhuday Yojana(AVYAY)                                                                                         |
| 13      | National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction                                                                           |
| 14      | Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood &Enterprize (SMILE)                                                 |
| 15      | Prime Minister's Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (YASASVI) (OBCs/EBCs/DNTs)                  |
| 16      | Scholarships for Higher Education Young Achievers Scheme (SHRE YAS) (OBCS)                                              |
| 17      | Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNT/N/SN (SEED)                                                                      |
| 18      | Information, Monitoring Evaluation and Social Audit                                                                     |

## Details of Programmes/Schemes being implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)

| S.No.   | Programmes/Schemes                                                                                                                           |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)                                                                                            |
| 2       | Pre-matric (Classes IX & X),                                                                                                                 |
| 3       | Post-matric (Classes XI to Post graduate Degree and Diploma),                                                                                |
| 4       | Top Class Education (Graduate and Post graduate Degree/Diploma in notified institutes of excellence in education),                           |
|         | National Overseas Scholarship (Masters Degree/ Ph.D in Foreign Universities),                                                                |
| 6       | National Fellowship for PwDs (M Phil and Ph.D in Indian Universities),                                                                       |
| 7       | Free Coaching (for competitive exams for group A and B posts and entrance examinations for admission to technical and professional courses). |
| 8       | National Action Plan for Skill Development                                                                                                   |
| 9       | Divyangian Kaushal Vikas                                                                                                                     |
| 10      | Divyangjan Rozgar Setu                                                                                                                       |
| 11      | Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)                                                   |

## Details of Programmes/Schemes being implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)

| S.No.   | Programmes/Schemes                                                                                                      |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)                                                                          |
| 2       | Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS)                                                                                 |
|         | Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)                                                                          |
|         | Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme                                                                                           |
|         | Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme                                                                                          |
|         | National Overseas Scholarship Scheme                                                                                    |
|         | National Fellowship Scheme (NFST)                                                                                       |
|         | National Scholarship (Top Class)                                                                                        |
| 9       | Post Matric Scholarship for SCs                                                                                         |
| 10      | Pre Matric for SCs and Other                                                                                            |
| 11      | Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS)                                                  |
| 12      | Pradhan Mantri AnusuchitJaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY)                                                                  |
| 13      | Strengthening of machinery for Enforcement of Protection of Civil Right Act 1955 and Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 |
|         | Scheme of Residential Education for Students in High School in Targeted Area (SRESHTA)                                  |
| 15      | Venture Capital Funds for SCs                                                                                           |
| 16      | Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur KushaltaSampannHitgrahi (PM DAKSH) Yojana for SCs                                            |

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Annexure-II referred to in reply to part (a to d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1999 for answer on 11.03.2025, raised by Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## Initiatives/Schemes for Economic Empowerment of Women:

| S. No.   | Initiatives/Schemes                                                                                                                                              |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | The maternity Benefit Act, as amended in 2017                                                                                                                    |
| 2        | Code on wages 2019; the Industrial Relations Code 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and working Conditions Code 2020. |
| 3        | Sakkhi Niwas(Working Women's Hostel)                                                                                                                             |
| 4        | Palna                                                                                                                                                            |
| 5        | Hubs for Empowerment of Women(HEW)                                                                                                                               |
|          | Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana(PMMY)                                                                                                                                |
| 7        | Stand Up India                                                                                                                                                   |
| 8        | Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana                                                                                                                              |
| 9        | Deen Dayal Antyodaya National Urban Livelihoods Mission                                                                                                          |
| 10       | Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana                                                                                                                                      |
| 11       | Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna                                                                                                                                          |
| 12       | Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana                                                                                                                         |
| 13       | Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme                                                                                                                 |
| 14       | The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005(MGNREGA)                                                                                        |

## Initiatives for Political Empowerment of Women:

|   1 | In order to bring women in the mainstream of political leadership at the grassroot level, Government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutional for women.   |
|-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2 | In 2023, Parliament of India passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth                                                                                                     |

Amendment) Act, 2003, "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam"

## Initiatives/Schemes for Education of Women:

|   1 | Samagra Shiksha                                                   |
|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2 | Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram New India Literacy Programme-NILP) |
|   3 | Swacch Vidyalaya Mission                                          |
|   4 | Vigyan Jyoti                                                      |
|   5 | Gender Advancement for transforming Institution (GATI), 2020      |
|   6 | Women Technology Parks(2017-18)                                   |

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