Contents

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment .............................................................................................................. 1

1 SMILE – ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise’ Scheme ...................................... 1
2 Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital Fund (VCF) for SCs .......... 1
3 Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik Sahayata Yojana (VISVAS Yojana) ................................................... 2
4 National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-23) .............................................................................. 3
5 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana .................................................................................................................................... 4
Let’s Practice ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

1 SMILE – ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise’ Scheme
Launch Year: 2021
Key Features
• This umbrella scheme would cover several comprehensive measures including welfare
measures for both transgender persons and persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
• The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities,
counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on
with the support of State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations,
Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and institutions and others.
• Scheme provides for the use of the existing shelter homes available with the State/UT
Governments and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of
Begging.
o In case of non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to
be set up by the implementing agencies.
Sub Schemes
• It includes 2 sub-schemes –
o Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of
Begging
o Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender
Persons

2 Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital
Fund (VCF) for SCs
Launch Year: 2020
Aim: To promote innovation and enterprise among SC students studying in higher educational
institutions
Objectives
• To promote entrepreneurship among the SC Youth with special preference to Divyangs

1|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
• To support, promote, hand-hold the start-up ideas till they reach commercial stage by providing
liberal equity support
• To incentivise students with innovative mind-set to take to entrepreneurship with confidence.
Eligible Beneficiaries
• Youth who have been identified by the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) being promoted
by Department of Science & Technology
• Youth who are identified for incubation by reputed private TBIs
• Students who have been awarded under the Smart India Hackathon or Smart India Hardware
Hackathon being conducted by Ministry of Education
• Innovative ideas focusing on the socio-economic development of the society identified in the
TBIs
• Start-ups nominated and supported by corporates through CSR funds.
Key Features
• Under this initiative, 1,000 SC youth would be identified in the next 4 years with start-up ideas
through the TBIs in various higher educational institutions.
o They will be funded @ Rs. 30 lakhs in 3 years as equity funding so that they can translate
their start-up ideas into commercial ventures.
o Successful ventures would further qualify for venture funding of up to Rs. 5 Crore from
the Venture Capital Fund for SCs.
• Under this initiative VCF-SC shall target SC students/young entrepreneurs working in TBI
supported by Department of Science and Technology (DST) in higher education and technology
institution including Business / Management schools.
• The VCF-SC shall extend all support in the form of hand-holding, guidance, mentoring, besides
providing equity support up to Rs 30 lakh over a period of 3 years to each entity of young SC
students / entrepreneurs.
• The budget of ASIIM for the next four years has been kept at Rs 19320 lakhs.
• The ASIIM initiative will be implemented by the Venture Capital Fund for SCs (VCF-SCs) which
was set up in 2016 with the Fund size of Rs. 500 crore.
• It would further give fillip to the ‘Stand Up India’ initiative.

3 Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik Sahayata Yojana (VISVAS Yojana)
Launch Year: 2020
Aim
Financial empowerment of economically marginalized OBC SHGs & Individuals
Objectives
Under the scheme, interest subvention will be provided to Self Help Groups with 100% OBC
members and OBC individuals who have taken loan for various income generating activities from
those Lending Institutions who have signed MoA with National Backward Classes Finance &
Development Corporation (NBCFDC).
Eligibility Criteria
• Members of Backward Classes, as notified by Central Government/State Governments from
time to time.
2|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
• Applicant’s annual family income should be less than Rs. 3.00 Lakh.
• SHGs must be registered with NRLM/NULM/NABARD with more than two years of credit
history
• SHGs/Individuals must have made all repayments timely to be eligible for Interest Subvention
• All OBC Antoday Anna Yojana (AAY) card holders, and OBC individuals facing three or more
Deprivations in terms of SECC-2011, as per records available at the relevant BDO Office shall be
eligible for Interest Subvention.
• All OBC beneficiaries involved in Agricultural activities and getting coverage under the PM
Kisan shall be eligible for coverage under Interest Subvention
Key Features
• Maximum loan limit (for SHG) : Rs. 4.00 Lakh
• Maximum loan limit (for individual): Rs. 2.00 Lakh
• Maximum Subvention Amount: @5% p.a.
• Mode of payment of Subvention
o Through Direct Transfer of Subvention Amount into operating account of SHG or Individual
• Period of Scheme
o Valid for 2020-21 as of now. Further extension contingent on the evaluation of the Scheme
by way of its impact assessment.

4 National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-23)

Launch Year: 2018
Aim: Reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy involving
education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.
Objectives
• Create awareness and educate people about the ill-effects of drugs abuse on the individual,
family, workplace and the society at large.
• Develop human resources and build capacity for working towards these objectives
• Facilitate research, training, documentation, innovation and collection of relevant information
• Provide for a whole range of community-based services for the identification, motivation,
counselling, de-addiction of addicts
• Formulate and implement comprehensive guidelines, schemes, and programmes using a
multiagency approach for drug demand reduction
• Alleviate the consequences of drug dependence amongst individuals, family and society at
large.
Key Features
• Focus on preventive education, awareness generation, counselling, treatment and
rehabilitation of drug-dependent people, besides training and capacity-building of service
providers through the collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and NGOs.
• Involvement of stakeholders: Coordination with implementing agencies for controlling the sale
of sedatives, painkillers and muscle relaxant drugs, and checking online sale of drugs by stringent
monitoring by the cyber cell are proposed under the Action Plan.

3|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
• Awareness generation through social, print, digital and online media, and engagement of
celebrities, besides strengthening the national toll-free helpline for drug prevention.
• Increase community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand by
involving Panchayati Raj institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and
other local groups like Mahila Mandals, self-help groups etc to tackle the menace of drugs.
• A steering committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of the secretary, Social
Justice Ministry, and with representatives from several other Ministries to monitor the
implementation of the Action Plan.
• National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) carries out programmes for capacity building and
training of functionaries of de-addiction centres through NCDAP.
Components admissible for financial assistance -
• Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building
• Treatment and Rehabilitation
• Setting quality standards
• Focused Intervention in vulnerable areas
• Skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts
• Survey, Studies, Evaluation, Research and Innovation on the subjects covered under the Scheme.
• Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs
• Programme Management
• Any other activity or item which will augment/strengthen the implementation of NAPDDR

5 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Launch Year: 2017
Aim
Providing Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from any of the age-related
disability/infirmity viz. Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability, with
such assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming
the disability/infirmity manifested.
Target Beneficiary
• Senior citizens (aged 60 years or above) of BPL category
• Senior citizens with monthly income not more than Rs. 15000
Key Features
• It is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens
belonging to BPL category.
• Free of cost distribution of the devices, commensurate with the extent of disability/infirmity
that is manifested among the eligible senior citizens.
• In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices
will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.
• The devices will help the Senior Citizens to overcome their age related physical impairment and
to lead a dignified and productive life with minimal dependence on care givers or other
members of the family.
• ALIMCO will undertake one year free maintenance of the aids & assisted living devices.
4|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
• The maximum cost of generic devices will not be exceed Rs. 15000 per beneficiary and for
special items Rs. 20000 per beneficiary.
• Beneficiaries in each district will be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations
through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.
o State Government/UT Administration/District Level Committee can also utilize the data
of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the NSAP or any other Scheme of
the State/UT for identification of senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.
• The devices will be distributed in Camp mode.
• For the senior citizens aged 80 years or more, the devices are provided at their doorsteps.
Funding Pattern: It is a central sector scheme funded from the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund. The
fund was notified in the year 2016.
Implementing Agency: Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)

Let’s Practice

Q.1) Who among the following is/are covered under SMILE – ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals
for Livelihood and Enterprise’ Scheme?
a) Transgender Persons
b) Persons who are engaged in the act of begging
c) Widows
d) 1 & 2 only
e) All of the Above
Answer: D
Explanation:
• SMILE – ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise’ Scheme would cover
several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for both transgender persons and
persons who are engaged in the act of begging.

Q.2) Under Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital Fund
(VCF) for SCs, 1,000 SC youth will be funded at the rate of ________ in 3 years as equity funding so
that they can translate their start-up ideas into commercial ventures.
a) Rs. 30 lakhs
b) Rs. 40 lakhs
c) Rs. 35 lakhs
d) Rs. 45 lakhs
e) Rs. 50 lakhs
Answer: A
Explanation:
• Under Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital Fund
(VCF) for SCs, 1,000 SC youth would be identified in the next 4 years with start-up ideas through
the TBIs in various higher educational institutions.
5|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
 o They will be funded @ Rs. 30 lakhs in 3 years as equity funding so that they can translate
their start-up ideas into commercial ventures.
o Successful ventures would further qualify for venture funding of up to Rs. 5 Crore from
the Venture Capital Fund for SCs.

Q.3) Who among the following is/are eligible under Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik
Sahayata Yojana (VISVAS Yojana)?
1. Members of Backward Classes
2. All OBC Antoday Anna Yojana (AAY) card holders, and OBC individuals facing three or more
Deprivations in terms of SECC-2011
3. All OBC beneficiaries involved in Agricultural activities and getting coverage under the PM Kisan
Yojana
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
e) None of the Above
Answer: D
Explanation:
Eligibility Criteria Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik Sahayata Yojana (VISVAS Yojana)
• Members of Backward Classes, as notified by Central Government/State Governments from
time to time.
• Applicant’s annual family income should be less than Rs. 3.00 Lakh.
• SHGs must be registered with NRLM/NULM/NABARD with more than two years of credit
history
• SHGs/Individuals must have made all repayments timely to be eligible for Interest Subvention
• All OBC Antoday Anna Yojana (AAY) card holders, and OBC individuals facing three or more
Deprivations in terms of SECC-2011, as per records available at the relevant BDO Office shall be
eligible for Interest Subvention.
• All OBC beneficiaries involved in Agricultural activities and getting coverage under the PM
Kisan shall be eligible for coverage under Interest Subvention

Q.4) Which of the following is/are the implementing agencies of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?
a) HelpAge India
b) NITI Aayog
c) ALIMCO
d) GiveIndia
e) None of the Above
Answer: C
Explanation:
Implementing Agency of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation
(ALIMCO)

6|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1