Social Justice – Governance and Welfare Schemes

Social justice means creating a society where all people get equal rights, opportunities, and dignity, irrespective of caste, religion, gender, or economic background.

In India, social justice is not just an ideal but a constitutional mandate. Our Constitution talks about justice – social, economic, and political. To achieve this, governance and welfare schemes play a vital role.

• Governance means how the government functions – policy-making, administration, law implementation, and service delivery.
• Welfare schemes are programmes started by the government to reduce poverty, inequality, and ensure inclusive development.

Together, they form the foundation of a welfare state.

Link between Governance and Social Justice

• Good governance ensures that welfare benefits reach the neediest sections.
• Transparency, accountability, and participation are key to just governance.
• Poor governance → corruption, leakages, inequality.
• Social justice through governance means delivering rights and services fairly.

Example: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) reduces corruption and ensures subsidies directly reach beneficiaries.

Constitutional Basis

Provision	Purpose for Social Justice
Preamble	Justice – Social, Economic, Political
Fundamental Rights	Equality before law, prohibition of discrimination
Directive Principles of State Policy	Duty of state to promote welfare (Art. 38, 39, 41, 46, 47)
Fundamental Duties	Promote harmony, protect environment
73rd & 74th Amendments	Decentralized governance through Panchayati Raj and Municipalities

Remark: The Constitution makes India a welfare state, not just a political democracy.

Governance for Social Justice

Good Governance Features

1. Participation – Citizens, especially marginalized, should have a voice.
2. Transparency – Decisions must be open and clear.
3. Accountability – Officials responsible for delivery.
4. Rule of Law – Equal treatment for all.
5. Equity & Inclusiveness – Benefits for weaker sections.
6. Efficiency – Fast and proper implementation of schemes.

Examples of Governance Reforms

• RTI Act (2005) – Transparency in government.
• E-Governance (Digital India) – Online services, Aadhaar, UPI.
• Social Audits in MGNREGA – Accountability in welfare schemes.
• Panchayati Raj – Local governance, 33% reservation for women.

Welfare Schemes for Social Justice

The Government of India and states run many schemes targeting poor, marginalized, and vulnerable groups.

1. Poverty Alleviation & Employment

• MGNREGA (2005) – Guarantees 100 days of rural wage employment.
• PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (2020) – Free ration during COVID-19.
• National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – Old age, widow, and disability pensions.

2. Education

• Right to Education Act (2009) – Free & compulsory education (6–14 yrs).
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – Universal elementary education.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme – Free meals to improve enrolment & nutrition.
• National Education Policy (2020) – Inclusive and skill-based education.

3. Health & Nutrition

• Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY, 2018) – Health insurance for 50 crore poor.
• Janani Suraksha Yojana – Free institutional deliveries.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan – Fight malnutrition among children & mothers.
• Mission Indradhanush – Universal immunization for children.

4. Food Security

• National Food Security Act (2013) – Subsidized food for 67% population.
• Public Distribution System (PDS) – Ration shops for poor families.

5. Women Empowerment

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – Save and educate the girl child.
• Maternity Benefit Act (2017 Amendment) – 26 weeks maternity leave.
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under NRLM – Women-led microfinance.

6. Social Justice for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities

• Reservation Policy – Education, jobs, politics.
• SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989) – Safeguards against caste discrimination.
• Stand Up India – Loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
• Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities.

7. Housing & Urban Development

• PM Awas Yojana (Urban & Rural) – Housing for poor.
• Smart Cities Mission – Inclusive and sustainable urban development.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Sanitation and hygiene for all.

8. Farmers & Rural Development

• PM-Kisan (2019) – ₹6000 annual income support to farmers.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) – Easy agricultural loans.
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana – Crop insurance for farmers.

Table: Social Justice through Welfare Schemes

Sector	Scheme	Impact
Employment	MGNREGA	Rural employment & income support
Food	NFSA, PDS	Food security for poor
Health	Ayushman Bharat	Affordable healthcare
Women	Beti Bachao Beti Padhao	Gender justice
SC/ST	Scholarships, Stand Up India	Representation & equity
Housing	PM Awas Yojana	Shelter for poor
Farmers	PM-Kisan, Fasal Bima Yojana	Security for farmers

Governance Challenges in Welfare Schemes

1. Leakages & Corruption – Benefits often do not reach the intended.
2. Regional Imbalances – Some states perform better, others lag.
3. Exclusion Errors – Genuine poor left out due to faulty data.
4. Overlapping Schemes – Too many schemes create confusion.
5. Digital Divide – Technology-based schemes exclude those without access.
6. Political Interference – Schemes misused for vote-bank politics.

Remark: The problem in India is often not lack of schemes, but poor implementation.

Reforms for Better Governance

1. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – Subsidies directly to bank accounts, avoiding middlemen.
2. Aadhaar-Based Identification – Reduces duplication and fraud.
3. Social Audits – Local community monitors schemes like MGNREGA.
4. E-Governance – Online services (DigiLocker, UMANG app, etc.).
5. Decentralization – Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies implementing schemes.

Judicial Role in Social Justice through Governance

• Olga Tellis Case (1985) – Right to livelihood is part of Right to Life.
• Unni Krishnan Case (1993) – Right to education declared fundamental.
• Paschim Banga Case (1996) – Right to health is part of Right to Life.
• Indra Sawhney Case (1992) – Upheld OBC reservation.

Achievements of Welfare Schemes

1. Poverty declined from ~45% (1993) to ~21% (2011) – Planning Commission.
2. Literacy rates improved, especially among women and marginalized groups.
3. Life expectancy rose from 32 years (1950) to 70+ years (2020).
4. Food security ensured for millions under NFSA.
5. Empowerment of women through SHGs and reservations in Panchayats.

Contemporary Issues

1. COVID-19 Pandemic – Exposed gaps in health and social protection.
2. Privatization – Rising inequality in access to education and healthcare.
3. Unemployment – Despite schemes, jobless growth continues.
4. Malnutrition – Still high among children and women.
5. Caste and Gender Discrimination – Persist despite laws and schemes.

Way Forward

1. Increase budget allocation to health, education, and welfare.
2. Strengthen implementation and monitoring of schemes.
3. Focus on skill-based employment generation.
4. Promote public awareness about rights and entitlements.
5. Reduce regional and gender imbalances.
6. Use technology (AI, big data) for better targeting of schemes.
7. Encourage community participation for transparency.

Conclusion

Social justice cannot be achieved only through laws; it requires effective governance and well-designed welfare schemes. India has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, improving literacy, and expanding healthcare, but challenges of inequality, corruption, and exclusion remain.

The future lies in inclusive governance, where every policy and scheme keeps the poorest and weakest at the center. That is the true spirit of the Constitution and the dream of leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

Quote:
“The measure of a society is how it treats its weakest members.”