DoSJE organizes 28th Coordination Committee Meeting to devise Ways and Means to curb Offences of Untouchability and Atrocities against SCs and STs

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E), Dr. Virendra Kumar, and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs (TA), Shri Jual Oram, co-chaired the 28th meeting of the Committee to devise ways and means to curb offences of Untouchability and Atrocities against SCs and STs, in New Delhi  on 23 May 2025. It was also graced by the presence of Union Ministers of State, Dr. Ramdas Athawale, Shri B.L. Verma and Shri Durga Das Uikey.

In the meeting, discussions were held regarding charge sheet filing rate in the courts, pendency of cases in courts, status of Exclusive Special courts, meeting of Vigilance and  Monitoring Committees, pending grievances on National Helpline against Atrocities and Action plan to do away with shortcomings in implementation of the PCR and PoA Acts etc. was reviewed. The Committee reaffirmed the resolution of the Government to provide dignity to all the vulnerable sections of the society.

Union Minister, Dr. Virendra Kumar, in his concluding remarks, emphasized upon regular conduct of State Level and District Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee Meetings to review the implementation of the provisions of Act in their respective States and Districts. State Officers were asked to take measures in order to ensure the SC & ST Population are not exploited in their States. Further, he emphasized upon increase in establishment of Special Police Stations, to fix accountability and take action against erring officials as per the provisions of PoA Act in case of neglect of duty.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from all participants to work together to ensure that the intent and spirit of these crucial Acts are upheld and justice is delivered to the victims of caste-based discrimination and atrocities. It witnessed participation from various States Governments at the level of Additional Chief Secretaries, Secretaries, Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the SC/ST Development/Welfare Department, Home Department and Senior Police officials of the States/UTs attended the meeting.

Background

A committee, under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment along with the members from Ministry of Home Affairs, Tribal Affairs, Law and Justice, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and three non-official members (two amongst SCs and one amongst STs), was set up in the year 2006 on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It aims to devise ways and means to curb offences of atrocities and ensure effective administration of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities){PoA} Act, 1989.

MoU signed between Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for Awareness Generation on Social Welfare Schemes

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India, and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30/09/2024 in New Delhi. This significant partnership is aimed at enhancing public awareness about various Acts, Rules and Schemes of the Department, especially those designed to support the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.

NALSA, constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, has a mandate to provide legal aid to disadvantaged groups and spread legal literacy. Through this MoU, both NALSA and DoSJE will conduct a series of campaigns, seminars, and events to increase the reach and impact of social welfareschemes for vulnerable communities across India.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, and Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman of NALSA. The event also witnessed the official launch of the SARTHIE 1.0 initiative, a joint effort intended to empower disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Transgender Persons, Victims of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, persons engaged in the act of Begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes, and more.

The SARTHIE 1.0 initiative also aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the goals focused on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and promoting social protection policies that ensure greater equality for all. The collaboration aims to bridge the awareness gap and provide legal assistance to ensure the effective implementation of social welfare programmes. The launch of SARTHIE 1.0 during this event marks a crucial step toward addressing the needs of the most vulnerable sections of society through awareness generation and legal support, empowering them to access government welfare schemes more effectively. The synergy between the DoSJE and NALSA will ensure that the social justice to all is further strengthened.

In collaboration with NALSA, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment will ensure that awareness generation and outreach extends to the grassroot level. Under this partnership, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), will organize awareness camps across the country through the para-legal volunteers and panel lawyers. The camps will focus on ensuring awareness of the five important Acts being implemented by the Department:

1. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

2. Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

3. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007

4. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

5. Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

Besides ensuring outreach of the various schemes of the department, these legal awareness and outreach initiatives will range from Panchayat to State level, ensuring that the targeted audiences are made aware of their legal rights and the government welfare programmes available to them.

Link of Video footage of the event: https://www.youtube.com/live/2mFKXho8CXE?feature=shared

National Conference Bhim Auditorium

Orgainsed By Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

National Conference

National Conference is to be organized on Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on 25th - 26th May, 2023

Two days regional workshop is to be organized on Acts/Rules/schemes in Pune, Maharashtra on 28.02.2023 and 01.03.2023

Two days regional workshop is to be organized on Acts/Rules/schemes in Pune, Maharashtra on 28.02.2023 and 01.03.2023 with the 11 Participating Slates/UTs namely Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan.