Social Justice and Welfare in India: Schemes, Inclusion, and Legal Debates

Introduction

Social justice is a cornerstone of the Indian Constitution and a guiding principle of governance. It emphasizes equity, inclusivity, and protection of vulnerable groups. Welfare schemes, both at the central and state levels, play a crucial role in empowering disadvantaged communities by addressing issues of poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, disability, and economic marginalization.

In recent years, India has launched a wide array of welfare initiatives—such as Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY), programs for Divyangjans (persons with disabilities), and multiple schemes for women empowerment. Alongside, broader social debates like reassessing the age of consent under Indian law reflect evolving perspectives on rights, autonomy, and protection.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of these dimensions, combining legislative frameworks, welfare programs, performance outcomes, challenges, and the path ahead for ensuring inclusive development.

Part I: Performance of Key Central and State Schemes

1. PM SVANidhi (Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi)

• Launched: June 2020 during COVID-19 to support street vendors affected by lockdowns.
  
  
• Objective: Provide collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors to restart businesses.
  
  
• Features:
  1. Initial loan of ₹10,000 with repayment incentives.
  2. Digital transactions rewarded with cashback.
  3. Provision of higher loans in subsequent cycles for timely repayment.
     
     
• Performance:
  • Over 60 lakh applications sanctioned as of 2023, with women vendors forming a significant share.
  • Encouraged financial inclusion by linking vendors with formal banking channels.
  • Boosted digital adoption through UPI transactions among informal workers.
    
    
• Challenges:
  • Many vendors remain outside formal registration lists.
  • Awareness gaps in rural and semi-urban areas.
  • Some vendors struggle with repayment due to irregular incomes.

2. PM-KMY (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana)

• Launched: September 2019 for small and marginal farmers.
• Objective: Provide a pension of ₹3,000 per month after age 60 for farmers with landholdings below 2 hectares.
  
  
• Key Features:
  • Voluntary and contributory scheme (farmers contribute ₹55–200 monthly depending on entry age).
  • Government provides equal matching contribution.
  • Managed by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).
    
    
• Performance:
  • Over 23 lakh farmers enrolled by mid-2023.
  • Provides social security in old age, reducing vulnerability.
  • Enhances financial stability in rural areas.
    
    
• Challenges:
  • Low awareness among farmers.
  • Limited enrollment compared to India’s 12 crore small farmers.
  • Farmers in economically distressed states show weaker participation.

3. Schemes for Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities)

The government has introduced several initiatives to empower Divyangjans under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD):

• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign):
  Aims to make public infrastructure, transport, and digital platforms accessible.
  
  
• ADIP Scheme (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Aids and Appliances):
  Provides aids such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prosthetics at subsidized costs.
  
  
• Scholarships and Skill Development Programs:
  Financial support for education and vocational training.
  
  
• Performance:
  • Increased distribution of assistive devices.
  • Gradual improvement in accessibility of government buildings and transportation.
  • Skill development has helped many Divyangjans secure livelihoods.
    
    
• Challenges:
  • Implementation remains uneven across states.
  • Social stigma continues to limit opportunities.
  • Rural areas lag behind in accessibility and support.

4. Women Empowerment Initiatives

Women’s welfare and empowerment have been a consistent focus of both central and state governments. Key schemes include:

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP):
  Launched to combat declining child sex ratio and promote girls’ education.
  • Awareness campaigns have improved enrollment rates for girls.
  • However, critics note limited budget allocation for education components.
    
    
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
  Provides maternity benefits of ₹5,000 for wage loss compensation.
  • Helps improve maternal nutrition and healthcare access.
    
    
• Ujjwala Yojana:
  Provides LPG connections to women from poor households.
  • Over 9 crore connections distributed, reducing indoor air pollution.
    
    
• State-Level Initiatives:
  • Kerala’s Kudumbashree (self-help groups for women’s livelihoods).
  • Rajasthan’s Rajshree Yojana (cash benefits for girl child education).
    
    
• Challenges:
  • Gender wage gaps remain high.
  • Many schemes face underfunding and leakages.
  • Patriarchal mindsets hinder full empowerment.

Part II: Issues Related to Social Inclusion

1. Defining Social Inclusion

Social inclusion involves ensuring that marginalized groups—such as women, Dalits, Adivasis, religious minorities, disabled persons, and the urban/rural poor—have equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights.

2. Persistent Challenges

• Economic Inequality: Despite growth, India remains home to stark disparities in income and wealth.
  
  
• Caste and Community-Based Discrimination: Dalits and tribal communities often face exclusion from quality education, healthcare, and jobs.
  
  
• Gender Inequality: Women’s labor force participation remains low (around 20%).
  
  
• Digital Divide: Many vulnerable groups lack access to digital infrastructure, limiting participation in modern governance.

3. Efforts to Promote Inclusion

• Reservations in education and employment for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
  
  
• Welfare schemes targeted at specific groups (scholarships, subsidies, pensions).
  
  
• Legal safeguards such as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
  
  
• Technology-driven inclusion such as Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Jan Dhan accounts, and Aadhaar.

4. Gaps That Remain

• Weak implementation in rural areas.
• Corruption and middlemen reducing benefits.
• Marginalized groups still lack meaningful representation in decision-making.

Part III: Reassessing the Age of Consent in India

Background

• Currently, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the age of consent in India is 18 years.
  
  
• Any sexual activity below this age is considered statutory rape, regardless of consent.

Emerging Concerns

• Criminalization of Consensual Adolescent Relationships: Many cases under POCSO involve consensual relationships among teenagers (16–18 years).
  
  
• Judicial Observations: Several High Courts and the Law Commission of India have suggested re-examining the age of consent.
  
  
• International Comparison: Countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia have lower ages of consent (16–17 years).

Arguments for Reassessment

1. Realistic Approach to Adolescent Behavior: Recognizing consensual relationships avoids unnecessary criminalization.
   
   
2. Reducing Misuse of Law: Families often misuse POCSO to criminalize inter-caste or inter-community relationships.
   
   
3. Protecting Autonomy: Aligns with global practices of granting adolescents limited autonomy.

Arguments Against Lowering

1. Protection from Exploitation: Vulnerable adolescents may be more easily manipulated.
2. Health and Social Concerns: Early sexual activity may lead to risks like teen pregnancies.
3. Conservative Societal Norms: Cultural context in India still prioritizes higher protection for minors.

Current Policy Discourse

• The 22nd Law Commission of India (2023) recommended maintaining the age of consent at 18 but allowing judicial discretion in consensual cases involving adolescents.
  
  
• A “close-in-age exception” has been proposed, where consensual relationships between adolescents within a small age gap (e.g., 16–18 years) are not criminalized.

Part IV: Way Forward

1. Strengthening Implementation of Schemes
   • Improve last-mile delivery through technology and community monitoring.
   • Ensure adequate funding and remove bureaucratic delays.
     
     
2. Promoting Social Inclusion
   • Bridge the digital divide with affordable internet.
   • Strengthen vocational training for women, youth, and Divyangjans.
   • Foster greater participation of marginalized groups in governance.
     
     
3. Balancing Protection and Autonomy in Consent Laws
   • Introduce nuanced legal reforms to differentiate consensual adolescent relationships from exploitation.
   • Provide sex education and counseling for adolescents.
     
     
4. Multi-Stakeholder Approach
   • Collaboration between government, NGOs, and private sector.
   • Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions for grassroots-level monitoring.

Conclusion

Social justice and welfare remain central to India’s democratic ethos. Programs like PM SVANidhi, PM-KMY, Divyangjan schemes, and women empowerment initiatives are vital instruments for uplifting vulnerable communities. However, persistent gaps in implementation, awareness, and inclusivity highlight the need for sustained reforms.

At the same time, debates on social inclusion and the age of consent reflect the complexities of balancing protection with rights and autonomy in a rapidly evolving society. As India moves toward becoming a $5-trillion economy, ensuring inclusive growth through well-designed and effectively implemented welfare measures will be critical for genuine social justice.