SAMAVESH Portal, NMBA 2.0, SETU and SMILE Beggary Apps Launched at Chandigarh Shivir
Published: Apr 27, 2026
By TIOLCorplaws News Service
NEW DELHI, APR 27, 2026: THE Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment saturday launched a three-day National Chintan Shivir in Chandigarh, bringing together States and Union Territories for a focused push on strengthening India's social justice delivery architecture. Inaugurated jointly by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, and Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, in the presence of Minister of State B. L. Verma, the Shivir is being held on the theme "Antyodaya ka Sankalp, Amrit Kaal ka Pratibimb - Viksit Bharat@2047", with an emphasis on last-mile implementation, technology-enabled governance and inclusive empowerment of marginalised communities. Narayan Singh Kushwaha, Minister for Social Justice and Disabled Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Krishan Kumar Bedi, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs & BCs Welfare and Antyodaya, Government of Haryana; Ravinder Indraj Singh, Minister for Social Welfare, SC & ST Welfare and Cooperative, Government of NCT of Delhi; Pi Lalrinpuii, Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Government of Mizoram; and Narendra Kashyap, Minister for Backward Class Welfare and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Uttar Pradesh, were also present on the occasion.
On this occasion, the exhibition showcasing key initiatives, flagship schemes and achievements of the Ministry was inaugurated by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria in presence of Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar and Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment B L Verma.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, said that the National Chintan Shivir provides an important platform for States and Union Territories to deliberate on key issues of social justice and empowerment and to strengthen collective efforts towards inclusive development. He underlined that social justice lies at the core of India's democratic ethos and that the resolve of "Antyodaya ka Sankalp, Amrit Kaal ka Pratibimb - Viksit Bharat @2047" can be realised only when the concerns of the poorest and most vulnerable are placed at the centre of policy and governance.
Kataria emphasised the need for effective implementation of welfare schemes, close coordination between the Centre and the States/UTs, and active community participation to ensure that benefits reach every eligible beneficiary without discrimination or delay. He expressed confidence that the Chintan Shivir would lead to practical, time-bound recommendations to strengthen social protection, address challenges such as exclusion and deprivation, and promote dignity, inclusion and social harmony at the grassroots level. He further said that the vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047 cannot be realized unless every marginalized section of society is brought into the mainstream of development. He emphasized the need for inclusive policies, equitable access to opportunities, and collective efforts to ensure that no one is left behind in the nation's growth journey.
In his inaugural address, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar underlined that the Chintan Shivir was not a routine meeting of policymakers and administrators, but a collective platform of ideas, commitment and shared national purpose. He said the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 rests on the foundations of justice, equality, dignity and opportunity, and that inclusive development must ensure that progress reaches those who have historically remained on the margins.
The Union Minister emphasised that the policy deliberations during the Shivir should be guided by three core pillars - dignity, accessibility and continuity. He said that whether it is a student aspiring for education, a senior citizen seeking care, or a person with disability striving for self-reliance, public policy must move beyond welfare towards empowerment and ensure that systems are humane, responsive and inclusive.
Highlighting the importance of accessibility and continuity, Dr. Virendra Kumar said that benefits meant for the people must not remain confined to policy documents and should reach intended beneficiaries without procedural barriers. He referred to technology-enabled and integrated approaches, including simplified scholarship systems, service access for senior citizens, and support structures for disadvantaged youth, as essential elements of long-term and transformative empowerment.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B. L. Verma said that the Chintan Shivir reflects the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, under which the Centre, States and Union Territories come together as one team to strengthen the delivery of welfare schemes. He noted that the programme embodies the Government's resolve for "Viksit Bharat @2047", with social justice at its core, and seeks to ensure equality, dignity and inclusion for every citizen, particularly those from disadvantaged and vulnerable sections. Verma underlined that the Ministry is working with full commitment to translate this vision into tangible outcomes through well-designed policies, targeted programmes and effective service delivery mechanisms.
Verma highlighted that the Ministry's foremost priorities in the field of social justice are reaching the deprived, improving accessibility of services, simplifying procedures and ensuring beneficiary-centric governance. He said the Chintan Shivir has been designed not merely for discussion but to arrive at implementable outcomes through thematic group work, sharing of best practices and the preparation of actionable recommendations.
The Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Sudhansh Pant said that this Chintan Shivir reflects our commitment to reach the last person first and to ensure that development is inclusive and transformative.
The Secretary, V. Vidyavathi, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities said, "the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 cannot be achieved without an Inclusive Bharat, where all sections of society, including persons with disabilities, are fully included and empowered to participate in all aspects of development."
A major highlight of the inaugural session was the launch of several digital platforms and knowledge resources aimed at strengthening accessibility, transparency and service delivery. These included the SAMAVESH Portal as a single access mechanism for multiple verticals of empowerment and social harmony, the NMBA 2.0 App for reinforcing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the SETU App for streamlining scholarship-related services, and the SMILE App for outreach and rehabilitation of vulnerable groups.
On the occasion, a publication on Minimum Standards for Dementia Care Homes and Model Guidelines for Beggar Homes was also released to support States and UTs in strengthening institutional care, rehabilitation frameworks and service quality. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and partner institutions to expand capacity building, training and research initiatives in the social sector.
On this occasion, Nasha Mukti Mitras from various States and Union Territories were also felicitated by the dignitaries in recognition of their commendable efforts and grassroots contributions towards spreading awareness and combating substance abuse. Their dedication and active engagement were acknowledged as instrumental in advancing the objectives of a drug-free society.
The Chintan Shivir will continue over the next two days with thematic discussions, breakout sessions and group presentations focused on actionable recommendations for strengthening the delivery of social justice and empowerment programmes.
