20-Feb-2025
World Day of Social Justice
Miscellaneous
Why in News?
World Day of Social Justice is observed annually on 20th February by the United Nations.
- Aims to promote poverty eradication, social inclusion, equal opportunities, and human rights.
- International Labour Organization (ILO) supports this through its Decent Work Agenda and the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008).
- Theme: Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps of Social Justice
- The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) leads efforts to empower marginalized communities.
- Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹13,611 crores to MoSJE, marking a 6% increase from the previous year.
Key Constitutional Provisions
- Preamble – Promotes justice, equality, and fraternity.
- Fundamental Rights (Part III)
- Article 23: Prohibits human trafficking and forced labour.
- Article 24: Bans child labour in hazardous jobs.
- Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)
- Article 38: Aims to minimize inequalities.
- Article 39A: Provides free legal aid to the disadvantaged.
- Article 46: Promotes education and welfare for SCs, STs, and weaker sections.
Major Government Schemes for Social Justice
- PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana)
- Launched in 2021-22 to uplift Scheduled Castes via skill development and infrastructure.
- Over 5,051 villages declared Adarsh Gram.
- SRESHTA (Scheme for Residential Education for SC Students)
- Supports SC students in Classes 9–12 with residential schooling.
- Encourages education in quality CBSE/State Board schools.
- Purple Fest – Festival of Inclusion
- Annual event by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
- 2024 event saw participation from 10,000+ Divyangjan.
- Launched the India Neurodiversity Platform.
- NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem)
- Ensures dignity and safety of sanitation workers.
- Expands coverage to include waste pickers (from FY 2024-25).
- SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise)
- Focuses on the rehabilitation of transgender individuals and persons engaged in begging.
- As of Nov 2024, 970 beggars rehabilitated across 81 cities.
- PM-DAKSH Yojana
- Launched in 2021 for skill development of SCs, OBCs, EBCs, and DNTs.
- Offers free training with a target of 70% job placement.
- Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
- Launched on 15th August 2020 to create a drug-free India.
- Covers 272 high-risk districts, impacting over 13.57 crore people
