Chintan Shivir of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment concludes at Chandigarh
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, successfully concluded a three-day Chintan Shivir with States/UTs held from April 24 to April 26, 2026 at The Lalit, Chandigarh. The Shivir brought together senior officials, policymakers, and representatives from States/UTs to deliberate on key issues, challenges, and reforms in the delivery of social justice initiatives across the country.
The programme had the presence of Hon'ble Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar, Hon'ble Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L Verma and Hon'ble Ministers of other States.From the State of Sikkim, the programme was attended by Mr. Satyen Pradhan, Special Secretary, and Ms. Bandana Chettri, Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim. The officers actively participated in the deliberations, presenting the status of various programmes being implemented in the State. They also shared valuable recommendations and feedback aimed at strengthening delivery mechanisms and enhancing the effective implementation of the Ministry's initiatives.
The event commenced on April 24 with an inaugural session featuring addresses by Hon'ble Union Ministers. Several key digital initiatives were launched during the session, including the SAMAVESH Portal, NMBA 2.0 App, and SETU App, aimed at enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in service delivery.
Over the next two days, the Shivir focused on structured thematic discussions and breakout sessions. Participants were divided into five groups to deliberate on ten critical themes, covering areas such as:
• Strengthening scholarship delivery and educational access
• De-addiction and rehabilitation ecosystems under Nasha Mukt Bharat
• Dignity in labour and elimination of hazardous sanitation practices
• Ageing with dignity and support systems for senior citizens
• Early intervention and empowerment initiatives
• Financial inclusion and access to credit
• Accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabiliti
The Shivir also emphasized four major thematic priorities during discussions:
1. Leveraging community engagement and Public-Private-People Partnerships (PPPP)
2. Strengthening last-mile delivery mechanisms
3. Enhancing awareness to ensure accessibility
4. Simplification of processes in Ministry schemes
States and UTs actively shared best practices and innovative approaches, contributing to a collaborative learning environment. Each group presented actionable recommendations with defined timelines, focusing on policy improvements, addressing implementation gaps, and scaling successful models.
The valedictory session on April 26 included remarks by participating Ministers from States/ UTs and concluding observations by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Gol.
The Chintan Shivir marks a significant step towards strengthening cooperative federalism and ensuring inclusive, efficient, and impactful delivery of social justice schemes across India.
