Empowerment of the marginalized groups through socio-economic empowerment and social justice

India is a welfare state, committed to the well being and development of its people and vulnerable sections in particular. The preamble, directive principles of state policy, fundamental rights and specific sections in the constitution of India, stand testimony to the commitment of the state to its people. Socially deprived groups like scheduled caste/ scheduled tribes have received special focus over the years for their social and economic advancement. Government has taken various steps for framing appropriate policies needed to design and implement various welfare programmes for achieving the objective of creating favorable environment to ensure speedy socio-economic development of the marginalized groups like scheduled caste and tribes. For the well being of these communities, special target oriented programmes are being implemented by earmarking funds, providing subsidies, offering reservations in employment and educational institutions. But despite all these programmes, they are still at the bottom of the society, in every sphere of social, political, educational, employment, economic and cultural activities. Therefore, the need of the hour is the necessity of effective implementation mechanism of these programmes in order to empower the socially disadvantaged groups of India.