New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that as part of educational empowerment of marginalised students, Rs 7,981.47 crore were disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries in 2025-26, an official said.

The Ministry said in a statement that the expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend, with a 21 per cent increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs and Others.

There has been an 11.23 per cent increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs, an increase of 13.5 per cent under the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16 per cent increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024–25, said the statement.

Virendra Kumar said that the government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiatives.

He said the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is focused on the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, transgender persons, persons engaged in begging, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), manual scavengers, sanitation workers (including waste pickers), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

In another statement, the Ministry said that 26-plus crore people, including 9.5-plus crore youth, 6.47-plus crore women and 28,000-plus master volunteers, have been sensitised on substance use through more than 8.3 lakh activities conducted under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) at various levels, including in educational institutions.

The NMBA was launched on August 15, 2020, by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 identified most vulnerable districts, and now it has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from August 15, 2023.

The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use.

The NMBA App, currently accessible to authorised users, supports States, Districts, spiritual organisations and other stakeholders in uploading and tracking activities under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through a consolidated dashboard with near real-time visibility, said the statement.

It also serves as a resource platform by providing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials along with basic communication support for Nasha Mukti Mitras to facilitate awareness efforts.

In a step towards strengthening the monitoring and implementation framework of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the Ministry plans to launch the upgraded Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) App 2.0, said the statement.

The enhanced application is designed as a centralised digital tool for States/Districts and other stakeholders to facilitate real-time reporting, monitoring, and coordination among implementing agencies at the National, State, District, and institutional levels.

The upgraded version builds upon existing capabilities while introducing new features aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and data-driven governance, said the statement.

–IANS

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