NEWS – New social welfare initiatives were launched by government of India

PM-SURAJ

• The Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) portal facilitates the application process and progress monitoring for various loan and credit schemes available to disadvantaged sections of society.
• It aims to streamline the distribution of financial assistance, eliminating intermediaries and commissions, with a primary focus on uplifting marginalized segments of society.
• Implementing Agency: Led by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and its affiliated departments

UNDER NAMASTE SCHEME

• Ayushman health cards and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits were distributed by the ministry to sewer and septic tank workers (Safai Mitras) under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE).
• NAMASTE stands for National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem.
• It has been launched with an objective to ensure safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India as well as providing sustainable livelihood to these workers.
• Ministries involved: It is launched as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Implementing agency– National Safai Karamchari Financial Development Corporation (NSKFDC) would be implementing agency for NAMASTE.
• Coverage: Five hundred cities (converging with AMRUT cities) will be taken up under this phase of NAMASTE. It will be implemented for the period 2022-26.