Latest news with #MinistryofSocialJusticeandEmpowerment
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Centre calls for proposals to set up de-addiction centres in 291 ‘gap' districts
The Union government has invited proposals to set up District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 'gap' districts identified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment across 30 States and Union Territories in the country as part of its National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. 'Gap' districts have been identified as those that currently have no Centrally supported infrastructure to treat or rehabilitate people who are dealing with substance abuse or dependence, officials told The Hindu. The Social Justice Ministry is also preparing to launch a fresh round of a nationwide survey to establish the extent and pattern of substance use across India, which is expected to gather data at the district level. The government's national action plan provides for the Social Justice Ministry to support Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), Community-based Peer Led Initiatives (CPLIs), Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs), and DDACs. The Social Justice Ministry told Parliament this April that it is supporting 350 IRCAs, 74 ODICs, 46 CPLIs, and 124 DDACs. Apart from this, the Ministry is also supporting 142 addiction treatment facilities running from government hospitals. 'These [291] districts are ones where currently no IRCA, CPLI, or ODIC supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment are running. So, as a start, the government is calling for DDAC proposals for these gap districts, which will also serve the functions of these interventions,' a government official said. In addition to administrative and office space for the staff, each DDAC is supposed to house a treatment cum rehabilitation centre, an area for drop-in centre facilities, and an area for CPLI facilities. The DDACs can have the capacity to house 15 or 30 patients at a time, with specific norms of minimum requirements prescribed for them. According to the invitation issued by the government for the latest batch of 291 DDACs, the highest number of 'gap' districts have been identified in Chhattisgarh, where 31 of the State's 33 districts have figured in this list. Other states where a high number of 'gap' districts have been identified include Madhya Pradesh (23), Gujarat (22), Arunachal Pradesh (21), Bihar (25), Jharkhand (16), Uttar Pradesh (18), Punjab (16), and Assam (10). The invitation for expression of interest-cum-proposal floated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the latest batch of 291 DDACs issued last week asked eligible NGOs and start-ups with at least two years of experience in drug de-addiction treatment to apply by June 30. The government said these DDACs would 'conduct primary prevention activities through awareness programmes among the vulnerable and affected community', and 'engage in risk mitigation of substance use among children/adolescents/youth'. This will include preventing substance use, identifying peer educators in the communities, implementing early prevention education, identifying adolescents or children using substances and referring them to rehabilitation centres or treatment facilities, among other activities. The National Survey of Extent and Pattern of Substance Use conducted in 2017-18 estimated, through extrapolated data, that there were about 1.18 crore children and adolescents using various psychoactive substances, including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, sedatives, inhalants, cocaine, amphetamine-type substances, and hallucinogens. The same survey had estimated about seven crore adults in the country using these psychoactive substances.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Four major initiatives on AI launched
Four major initiatives focused on Artificial intelligence (AI) and accessibility which aim to harness AI for the creation of inclusive digital ecosystems and offer scalable solutions in assistive technology were launched on Friday. At a national conference on AI for Empowering Persons with Disabilities, held in Bengaluru, the four missions [Mission AI accessibility; Mission AI: Implementation of AI in Assistive Technologies and Tools for Empowering People with Disabilities; National Disability Support AI Chatbot, and United Benefits Interface (UBI)] were launched. Rajesh Aggarwal, secretary, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said: 'A new era of inclusion has been ushered in by Artificial Intelligence.' His keynote presentation covered advancements in deep learning, robotics, and computer vision, emphasising their potential in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. The conference also showcased how AI can be a force multiplier in creating a more inclusive and accessible India. It also brought together leading experts, government officials, technologists, and advocates to showcase how AI is enhancing accessibility and opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Thrust on modernising solid waste disposal and sanitary worker safety, says CM
The government is prioritising modernisation of solid waste disposal measures and improving the health safety of sanitary workers while maintaining a clean Puducherry, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said on Monday. Inaugurating a skill development workshop for sanitation workers on preventing hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks in urban local bodies under the joint auspices of the Oulgaret Municipality and Genrobotic Innovations firm, Mr. Rangasamy said identifying a landfill for accumulating solid waste collected from across the city had been a vexed issue as residents objected to dumping of garbage anywhere near their neighbourhoods. This had necessitated the advocacy of a zero-waste policy with an industry-scale and technology-driven approach to solid waste disposal and efforts were now aimed at the same-day disposal of collected and segregated waste at the Kurumbapet landfill. The workshop was held under the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) central sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at ensuring the dignity, safety, and social and economic empowerment of sanitation workers, specifically those engaged in cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Noting that many sanitation sector workers died young, the Chief Minister said in cognisance of the hazardous nature of their work, the government has been providing jobs to the next of kin on compassionate grounds of employees of municipalities and commune panchayats. Soon, jobs would be provided on compassionate grounds to the next of kin from around 200 families of the Pondicherry Municipality, he said. The Chief Minister said the underground sewerage network was being expanded and the process of treating-discharging sewage has reached more areas. An estimated 90% of the work is over. Work is also under way to repair blockages in the underground sewers in the city. When such blockages occur and are repaired, there is a risk of toxic gas attack on the sanitation workers. The administration was keen to adopt new innovations such as robotic machines to sewage extraction and removing blockages in underground sewers to reduce health risk to humans, he said. Mr. Rangasamy also called for adequate protective gear to be provided to sanitary workers who are engaged on a contractual basis. The municipal authorities need to ensure this, he said. K. Lakshminarayanan, Public Works Minister, AK Sai J. Saravanankumar, Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister, Prabhat Kumar Singh, Managing Director, National SafaiKaramchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC), A. Suresh Raj, Oulgaret Commissioner, and Rashid K., Director of Genroboic Innovations, participated. Later, during the awareness sessions on the occupational hazards involved in cleaning sewage and septic tanks. a demonstration was given on engaging a robot for cleaning operations, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the safe use of PPE equipment such as gloves, face mask and toxic gas leak detector.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 60 SC scholars lose NFSC fellowship after NSFDC publishes revised list
A section of Scheduled Caste students, who were awarded the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (NFSC) in March, have approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) for reinstatement of this fellowship after a revised list was released with their names removed. Their complaint is currently under process with the commission. Students say their financial and mental well-being has been affected due to the last-minute cancellation of the award. Some 60 students from the UGC-NET June 2024 batch have been affected after the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) published a revised list citing 'discrepancies in the (earlier) list and candidates' representations'. In March, the NSFDC published a list of 865 students on its website and issued award letters to them. However, in a letter dated May 2, 2025, the NSFDC said that due to discrepancies in the list and candidates' representations, the NTА has provided the rectified/revised list of 805 Students. 'In this regard, in pursuance of MoSJ&E's directives, the earlier list of 865 students stands cancelled, and the award letters issued on 18.03.2025 are withdrawn', the notice by NSFDC said. A candidate whose name did not appear on the revised list says that many students like him took admissions for Ph.D. programmes based on the first list, which assured their selection for the fellowship. 'After almost two months, we are told that we are no longer receiving the fellowship', he said. The notice by NSFDC says that the NTA has been providing the list of students (up to the slots allowed annually under the NFSC Scheme) from the UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET examinations for the NFSC Scheme. In March 2025, the NTA provided the list of 865 students selected from the UGC NET June 2024 examination. After due approval of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the NSFDC published the list of 865 Students on its website and issued award letters. R. Sachithanantham, MP, Dindigul Lokshabha Constituency, in a letter to Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Department, urged for his intervention to ensure the implementation of the first selection list which was released in March. 'I am concerned to note that the Country's highest Testing Agency is so casual and depresses the aspirations of poor and downtrodden SC candidates without any reason', said Mr. Sachithanantham in the, letter. The Hindu reached out to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for comments, but didn't receive a reply.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram govt to enforce stricter rules for establishment of private rehab centres: Minister
Aizawl, The Mizoram government will enforce stricter rules for the establishment of de-addiction or rehabilitation centres by private agencies, Social Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii said on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Aizawl, Lalrinpuii said that any individual or private agencies intending to set up or have set up a de-addiction centre will have to obtain accreditation from the government from now on. She said that accreditation is mandatory for all de-addiction or rehabilitation centres under the Mizoram Drug Act, 2016 and The Mizoram Drug Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre Accreditation Rules, 2019 . "These Acts and rules prescribe minimum standards of infrastructure, human resources, service and documentation, among others, for the establishment of de-addiction centres. Any person or rehabilitation centre, which fails to meet minimum standards will not be eligible to establish or run the facility from now on," she said. She said that accreditation aims at bringing systematic management of rehabilitation centres to ensure that drug addicts receive the standard care and support that they deserve. Lalrinpuii said that the government has acknowledged the contribution and service rendered by privately run rehabilitation centres and is ever ready to assist such facilities. The government has helped many centres on several occasions previously, she said. According to the minister, at present, there are 46 state-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the state, of which 11 are declared Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts , which provide a minimum standard of care and support to inmates as prescribed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Also, there are 25 privately run and eight church-run rehabilitation centres in the state, the minister said. She said that a proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the establishment of five more de-addiction centres in Saitual, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Mamit and Lawngtlai districts.
