Steps Toward Social Equity: A Decade of Welfare for the Marginalized

In a diverse country like India, where people come from varied social, economic, and regional backgrounds, the responsibility of inclusive governance becomes even more critical.

- AIYAN GULZAR

The term "marginalized communities" refers to those sections of society that have historically been excluded from access to resources, opportunities, and rights. These include Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, tribal groups, economically weaker sections, and people living in remote and conflict-affected regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Over the past decade, the Government of India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has introduced a series of initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between the mainstream and the marginalized. These efforts, if implemented effectively, hold the promise of transforming lives and building a more inclusive India.

One of the key pillars of the Modi-led government's vision has been economic empowerment. Financial inclusion was a major area of focus right from the beginning of the first term in 2014. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched to bring every unbanked citizen into the formal banking system. It led to the opening of over 50 crore bank accounts, a large number of them belonging to SCs, STs, and minorities. These accounts became crucial for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs), ensuring that subsidies and financial assistance reached people directly without leakage or corruption.

Building on this foundation, the government launched schemes like MUDRA Yojana and Stand-Up India. These initiatives provide easy collateral-free loans to small business owners, especially those from backward communities and women entrepreneurs. In regions like Kashmir, where unemployment among the youth is a pressing issue, such schemes have opened doors for self-employment and local enterprise, though awareness and ground-level support remain areas that need strengthening.