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

The meeting will bring together senior representatives from the States of Rajasthan, Goa 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, will address the meeting and outline 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 are participating in the Regional Review Meeting. These include Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Shri Ashish Mohan, Collector, Diu, Shri Rahul Dev Boora and Director-cum-Deputy Secretary, Social Welfare Department Shri Puneet Kulshreshtha.

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, will participate in the deliberations.

Senior officers from the Ministry attending the Regional Review Meeting include 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 Shri Gaurav Singh Rajawat, Director, among other senior officers of the Ministry.

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 utilisation of resources and measurable outcomes.

The meeting will provide 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.

Scheme-wise Review of Major Programmes

The Regional Review Meeting will undertake a detailed scheme-wise review of major programmes of the Department 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).

The review will assess physical and financial progress, beneficiary coverage and saturation, utilisation 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 will provide an opportunity to examine implementation challenges and identify practical solutions relating to beneficiary identification and saturation, inter-departmental convergence, monitoring and data management, fund utilisation, grievance redressal and dissemination of best practices and replicable models. The session will also focus on evolving time-bound corrective measures wherever required.

Review of Scholarships, Senior Citizen Welfare and NAMASTE

The day-long deliberations will also cover 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 will focus 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 will assess 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 will focus on the identification and profiling of sanitation workers and waste pickers, occupational safety and dignity, access to social security and health benefits, mechanisation of sanitation operations, capacity building, livelihood support and convergence with other welfare and social protection schemes.

Focus on Last-Mile Delivery and Measurable Outcomes

A dedicated Outcome Review Session will assess 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 will be 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 will identify priority interventions and specific action points 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.

Way Forward

The concluding session will consolidate the key observations, priorities and recommendations emerging from the deliberations. The Way Forward will include finalisation of action points and responsibilities, strengthened 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.

The 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. It will also reinforce 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.

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PR-160-TAR/KV/GA/RK

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