Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is an Indian government ministry. It is responsible for welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, including scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC/ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), the disabled, and the elderly.
The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Meira Kumar, who is assisted by a Minister of State, Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan.[1]
[edit] History
In the 1985-1986, the former Ministry of Welfare was divided into the Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of Welfare. At the same time, the Scheduled Castes Development Division, Tribal Development Division and the Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Wakf Division of the Ministry of Law left those ministries to form the new Ministry of Welfare.
The Ministry of Welfare adopted the name Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in May 1998. In October 1999, the Tribal Development Division left the ministry to become its own ministry, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. In January 2007, the Minorities Division and the Wakf Unit were moved out of the ministry to form the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Child Development Division left the ministry to form the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
[edit] Organization
The ministry has five bureaus, each headed by a Joint Secretary: Scheduled Castes Development Bureau; Backward Classes Bureau Coordination, Media, Administration; Disability Bureau; Social Defense (SD) Bureau; and Project, Research, Evaluation and Monitoring Bureau.
- National institutes for persons with disabilities
- Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai (AYJNIHH)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Physically Handicapped, New Delhi (formerly Institute for the Physically Handicapped (IPH))
- National Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped, Kolkata
- National Institute of Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad (NIMH)
- National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)
- National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH)
- National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Olatpur, Cuttack and Orissa (NIRTR)
- Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai (AYJNIHH)
- Other associated organizations
- Chief Commissioner for Disabilities
- Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
- Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee National Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped (formerly National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped (NIOH))
- National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
- National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
- National Commission for Safai Karamcharis
- National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC)
- National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
- National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation
- National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities
- Officer of the Chief Commissioner for Disabilities
- Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
- Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research (SVNIRTAR)
- Chief Commissioner for Disabilities
- See also: Reservation in India
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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ILO chief vows to ensure social justice amid global crises
19 Nov 2008, 1221 hrs IST, PTI
Somavia ran unopposed to continue his stint as the ninth Director-General in the Geneva-based agency's 89-year history, and will formally begin his new five-year term in March 2009.
He assumed office as ILO chief in early 1999. During the past decade, the Chilean has led the promotion of the ILO's Decent Work Agenda and overseen the implementation of the Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which was adopted in 1998.
During his tenure, the ILO witnessed a huge increase in the number of ratifications in labour standards as well as its own adoption of a landmark Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation in June of this year.
"We stand today at a significant moment in this Organisation's history," Somavia said.
"Unemployment is rising. The crisis continues to batter economies and individuals across the world. The number of working poor is increasing. And there is a growing chorus of concern over the balance, fairness and sustainability of the current model of globalisation," he added.
National Social Justice Movement’s appeal to the Prime Minister of India
[We reproduce the letter along with the enclosure sent to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister by the Convenor of the National Social Justice Movement, Dr. P.C.Patanjali, former Vice-Chancellor, Purvanchal University, Uttar Pradesh].
A national level meeting of the OBC leaders and activists was held in the Constitution Club, New Delhi on 17th August, 2008 under the aegis of the National Social Justice Movement programme. Shri B.R.Bhagat former Speaker Lok Sabha presided over the meeting. A list of the attending delegates is attached for ready reference. The unanimous decisions of the meeting are as follows:
That even after 61 years of Independence the presence of the OBC in the governance of the country is very scanty.
That 27% reservation in the Central Government services and educational institutes has been mandated by the Indian Parliament under article 340 of the Indian Constitution.
That these 27% seats are in addition to the seats already achieved in the merit list of the general quota by OBC candidates.
That the real implementation of the mandate has been a victim of logic chopping, clever hair-splitting arguments, intellectual gymnastics and word-jugglery of the officers sitting at the helm of affairs which has resulted in the non-implementation of the mandate of 27% reservation either in the services or in educational institutes.
In view of the above situation the meeting has passed the following resolutions unanimously for your consideration and immediate action.
Resolved
1. That the criteria of creamy layer be scrapped forthwith, to facilitate the full implementation of the spirit of 93rd amendment of the Constitution of India, in regard to the admission in institutes of higher learning (Technical Institutes and others).
2. That a commission be immediately constituted to monitor the implementation of reservation in educational institutes and the report be laid on the table of Parliament annually.
3. Three phase implementation order be immediately withdrawn and replaced by full 27% seats from the current session.
4. That Indian Judicial services as enshrined in the Article 312 of the Constitution be immediately implemented.
5. That the backlog of seats in services since 1993 be immediately filled from among the OBC category.
6. That caste based census be done in the ensuing census 2011 which will facilitate the identification of OBC.
7. Percentage of 27% reservation be increased proportionately whenever any addition is done to 1981 bench mark figures as reflected in the Mandal Commission report, 1980.
8. That several state governments such as West Bengal, Orissa etc., which are reluctant to implement 27% reservation in their states should be directed to adhere to the principle of reservation as mandated by Article 15(4), 15(5), 16(4), 14(4a) and 16(4b).
Status of OBC in Governance (Enclosure)
Even after 61 years of Independence OBC presence in Central Government jobs are as follows:-
Class I services - 4.7%
Class II services - 2.3%
Class III services - 5.9%
Class IV services - 4.3%
These figures are from the annual report 2006-07 and 2007-08 of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and pensions of Government of India. This is how the OBC category population has been systematically alienated and treated by the so called higher echelon of India who are at the helms of affair and who claim to be “Just and honest” for the common man. If there was no ‘Creamy Layer’ proviso, things would have been different.
There are 35 Governor/Lt.Governors/Administrators as head of the Indian States. But unfortunately, not a single person belongs to OBC category except some solitary cases in the past.
There are 26 Hon’ble Judges in the Supreme Court of India where the presence of OBC category Judge is nowhere.
Union Public Service Commission has 13 members, however, OBC ember is only one.
In regard to the posts of Chairman and members in almost all constitutional and non-constitutional Commissions and Committees and public sector bodies the presence of OBC’s is completely negligible. Similar is the case in India’s Diplomatic Services, Planning Commission, Financial Institutions and other bodies of Central Government.
Dr. B. R. AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY
VII Andhra Pradesh Sociological Society Conference, Hyderabad
INVITATION
CALL FOR PAPERS
National Conference on
ECONOMIC REFORMS IN INDIA
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
&
SOCIAL JUSTICE
27 27-29November 29November, 2008
Dr. Chakrapani Ghanta
Conference Secretary,
Head, Department of Sociology
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, (AP), India 500033
Phone: +91 91-40 40-2368 0484 +91 91-40 40-2360 8797
Email: open.sociology@gmail.com com, www.braou.ac.in
2
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
W
ith a feeling of great privilege and pleasure we welcome you to the 7th Andhra PradeshSociological Conference organized by the Department of Sociology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Open University, Hyderabad, India in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Sociological Society.
The conference will be held from 27
th -29 November at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University,Hyderabad.
Andhra Pradesh Sociological Society (APSS) has identified the most contemporary socially
relevant theme
"Economic Reforms in India: Social Exclusion and Social Justice" for theconference
. Apart from sociologists, academicians, social workers, counselors, researchers,scientists, social activists, journalists, policy makers, bureaucrats and representatives of
Government and Non-Government Agencies also will join the conference to present their
views and to discuss and deliberate upon the issue from different perspectives.
Among academics a serious debate has been going on in India about the social implications
of economic reforms and globalization. Although these debates are going on all over the
world, they have become much more significant and complicated in a society like India,
which is highly stratified on the basis of caste, religion, region and gender. A section of
scholars are strongly advocating that the Economic Reforms initiated by the Government of
India are creating prosperity and growth for the nation, particularly they are referring to
constant growth rates after Globalization and Economic Reforms. On the other hand a large
section of sociologists and social researchers are arguing that the growth is not inclusive and
the economic reforms as well as globalization have widened the gap within society and they
have been constantly exposing the negative dimensions saying that the market economy is
in a way excluding a large section of the people and it is working against the spirit of the
‘social justice’, a primary principle of the Indian Constitution.
To engineer this process further the Government is privatizing key sectors and natural
resources like land, water, mines, minerals etc. The present Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
and proposed Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZs) are going to emerge as deemed to be
foreign territories within the country. On the other hand labour intensive industries
disappearing and high-tech, export processing units are spreading across the country which
is further widening the social disparities.
There are fears among the people, communities and different sections of the large masses
in the country that these developments will further alienate and exclude them from the
mainstream development. Increasing disparities, a rise in under- and unemployment;
deterioration in the livelihoods of a majority of the population; an increase in critical poverty,
growing violence, suicides of farmers, weavers and other artisans are the expressions of
social unrest and injustice. Against this process people, castes, communities, political forces
are raising a demand for policy revision.
3
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Conference invites well researched papers to be presented in the technical sessions
from the intellectual community, Academicians, Social Workers, Social activists, Researchers,
Counsellors, Scientists, Journalists, Policy Makers, Analysts, Executives, Bureaucrats and
Representatives from Government and Non-Government and Corporate agencies.
Preference will be given for the papers based on primary research, field investigations and
case studies on the theme and following sub-themes;
1. Concepts and Theories of Social Exclusion and Inclusion
2. Concept of Social Justice and its relevance to contemporary Indian Society
3. Economic Reforms and Social Exclusion and Inclusive policies and Social Justice in
India
4. Caste, Gender, Religion, Region: Social Exclusion and Inclusion and Social Justice
5. Globalization and Human Development: Poverty, Education, Health and other
services
6. Social Impact of Economic Reforms: Social Exclusion and Inclusive Growth
7. Health Disorders, Diseases and Social Exclusion.
8. Social Inclusion, Social Justice: Judiciary and Judiciary Activism
9. Economic Reforms: State, Governance, Democracy and Sovereignty
Submissions
The paper writers are requested to submit their abstracts before 30
th September 2008electronically by email attachment to
open.sociology@gmail.com. The abstract shouldconsist of the statement -description, methodology, findings and conclusions or final
summary in about 250 words. The abstracts will be scrutinized and the selected papers will
be notified in course of time.
The selected paper presenters should submit their full papers not exceed 6000 words in the
same format. From the papers accepted for the conference presentation a few will be
selected for publication in a volume to be published and released during the conference.
All the submissions should be in MS Word format, typed in double space, Times New Roman
font, 12 point size. Each submission should have a title page containing the Name of the
author(s), designation (s), Department and affiliation(s), Mailing address, Email address
(es), Phone number(s) etc.
4
REGISTRATION
All the delegates, paper presenters must be registered by paying the following fee to attend
the Conference.
Delegates from outside Hyderabad Rs. 500-00
Local Delegates & members of APSS Rs. 200-00
Travel & Accommodation
The registration fee for the delegates will include the cost of lodging and boarding and the
conference kit and hospitality during the conference. Because of Limited resources we could
not provide you Travel, the delegates are requested to raise the TA & DA on their own. The
accommodation mentioned is of moderate, Non-AC and sharing. Those who need a special
and exclusive accommodation are requested to make their own arrangements.
The outstationed requests for registration should reach us in the enclosed form along with a
Demand Draft negotiable at Hyderabad in favour of
the Conference Secretary VII APSSConference, Hyderabad on or before 20
th November 2008.IMPORTANT DATES
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
30 SEPTEMBER 2008ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION
05 OCTOBER 2008
FULL PAPERS SUBMISSION
05 NOVEMBER 2008
REGISTRATION 20 NOVEMBER 2008
FESTSCHRIFT
The selected full papers will be published as a festschrift in honour of Prof. Aduvala
Vidyavathi, a senior sociologist and professor in the Department of Sociology, Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar Open University who will be attaining her superannuation after serving for more
than three decades in the field of Sociology. Dr. Vidyavathi, who started her illustrious
career in the year 1973 in the Department of Sociology, Osmania University joined Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar Open University; the then called "Andhra Pradesh Open University" in the year
1985 as Assistant Professor and became Associate Professor in the 1992 and Professor in
the year 2000.
Prof. Vidyavathi, born on 18
th November, 1948 in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh didher B.Sc. in Home Science in the year 1970, M.A. in Sociology in 1973 and M.Phil in 1977
from Osmania University. She was awarded the Doctorate degree in the year 1984 from the
department of Sociology, Osmania University.
Prof. Vidyavathi achieved several distinctions in her career. She held several academic and
administrative positions in the University including the Head, Department of Sociology,
Coordinator for Women Studies, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chairperson and Member
of Board of Studies and Chairperson of Department Level Research Committee (DLRC),
Faculty of Social Science. She is the person who has initiated a Women Studies Cell in the
University to take up development and extension activities for the women working in the
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University and with her perseverance and consistent efforts as the founder of the Women
Development Cell organized several Seminars and Extension lectures on issues related to
Women.
Prof. Vidyavathi’s served on several committees at other universities including the Centre for
Economic and Social Sciences (CESS), University of Hyderabad, Osmania and Kakatiya
Universities. She is the member in many professional bodies like Andhra Pradesh
Sociological Society (APSS), Indian Association for Women's Studies (IAWS) and Sociological
Society of India (SSI).
ABOUT Dr. B. R. AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is celebrated its Silver Jubilee year 2006-07.
BRAOU has its own distinction as the first Open University in the country, earlier known as
Andhra Pradesh Open University and named after the great soul Dr. B. R. Ambedkar during
his Centenary in 1991. Adopting Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s social philosophy of education as a
means of creating an egalitarian society as its vision, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University
providing access to quality education and training for diverse sections of the society with a
focus on hitherto deprived sections at low costs by using the modern technologies in
teaching-learning processes. The university has created a silent knowledge revolution in
Andhra Pradesh by reaching the door steps of hundred thousands of disadvantaged people.
In its journey of twenty five years, the university has grown up as the one of the megauniversities
of the country by offering variety of programmes and courses.
Department of Sociology’s contribution at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University is significant
in promoting sociology as a subject of the study; every year about 30,000 learners are
taking admissions in the department of Sociology at Undergraduate, Post Graduate and
Research level, recently the University has launched M.Phil and Ph.d programmes in the
Department.
At large, The University played a key role in liberalizing the higher education in the country
and it has spread the seeds of education among the socially excluded, depressed
communities for whom education was inaccessible and has rightfully succeeded in bringing
them in to main stream.
For further information
Dr. Chakrapani Ghanta
Conference Secretary,
Head, Department of Sociology,
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University,
Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills,
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, 500 033,
Phone: +91-40-2368 0484
+91-40-2360 8797
Email: open.sociology@gmail.com
Visit: www.braou.ac.in
http://www.braou.ac.in/APPS.pdf
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