PREM Division - About the Division

I. Research and Evaluation:

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a number of Schemes for the Welfare and Development of Scheduled Castes. Other Backward Classes, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Elder Persons, Drug Addicts, etc. These Schemes are implemented through State Governments, Union Territory Administrations and Non-Governmental Organisations. The objectives of implementation of these programmes are to ultimately provide the benefits to the targetted groups. It is necessary that the impact of the schemes and programmes need to be assessed and evaluated from time to time so that these can be appropriately modified to make them more effective for implementation, otherwise phased out if their utility is not found. Besides, it is also necessary to identify emerging issues those require policy interventions. The Ministry, therefore, sponsors research and evaluation studies.

At present, there are two Schemes i.e. "Scheme of Grant in aid for Research & Publications" (detailed Scheme is at Annexure-I), under which grants are provided for research / evaluation studies, seminars / workshops / conferences and publications covering the subject areas of Disabled Development, Social Defence, Other Backward Classes and general social welfare. The other Scheme is "Scheme of Supporting Projects of All India or Inter-State Nature for the Scheduled Castes Development (Research & Training) " (detailed Scheme is at Annexure-II) under which grants are provided for research for evaluation studies, seminars / workshops / conferences in the field of Scheduled Castes development. Under both the schemes, grants are provided to Universities, Research Institutions, Voluntary Organisations and Professional Associations to meet the essential expenditure for research and evaluation studies as well as for conducting seminars, conferences and workshops. The proposals received from above mentioned institutions, which fall under the purview of the Ministry are examined in the respective Programme Divisions and thereafter considered by the Research Advisory Committee for further recommendations and approval.

Research proposals on the specified priority areas received from established Research institutions and Universities are considered. In cases where it is felt that the problem needs to be studied on larger scale, a common research design is devised and the study on the subject carried out simultaneously in several States/UTs. The type of studies sponsored by the Ministry are (i) Evaluation studies; (ii) Diagnostic studies; and (iii) Documentation studies. In the case of Evaluation studies, the Ministry's programmes / schemes implemented at the field level are evaluated to know the effectiveness of the schemes and to modify the schemes appropriately. The Diagnostic studies are those on social problems relating to drug addiction, the aged, Persons with Disabilities and Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes population, etc. The Documentation type of studies are - Directory of Voluntary Organisations in the field of Social Welfare, Directory of Social Work Education & Training Institutions, Summary of Research findings of Research / Evaluation Studies and compilation of Handbook on Social Welfare Statistics, Encyclopedia of Social Work in India, etc.

The findings and recommendations of these Research / Evaluation studies have been useful for the Ministry for evolving further intervention at the policy and implementation levels and to identify social problems requiring urgent intervention.

The list of Research / Evaluation Studies sponsored during the Tenth Plan period (2002-03 to 2006-07) and during the year 2007-08 is at Annexure-III.

II. Plan Coordination

Annual Reports,
Annual Plans, Five Year Plans, Mid-term Appraisal,
Review of Plan Expenditure in the Ministry and by the Planning Commission
Preparation of material for Reference Manual of the I & B Ministry,
Economic survey- Supply of Information
Parliamentary Standing Committee for approval of Budget
Finance Commission matters
Advisory Committee Meetings of Indian Council for Social Science Research,
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, University Grants Commission,
Centre for Social Development.

III. Research/Statistical Publications:

Publications

The following publications have been brought out:

Handbook of Social Welfare Statistics 2007 (Available at the Facilitation Counter of the Ministry at the cost of Rs. 250/- per copy)
Compendium of Schemes and Programmes of the Ministry (2005).
Directory of Social Work Education Facilities in India (1995).

Annexure-I

Scheme of Grant in aid Rules for Research & Publications.

Annexure-II

Scheme of Supporting Projects of All India or Inter-State Nature for the Scheduled Castes Development (Research & Training).

Annexure-III

Common Policy Guidelines for Sponsoring Workshops / Seminars / Conferences on the Subject Areas of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Annexure-IV

List of Research / Evaluation Studies sponsored under the Scheme of Grant in aid Rules for Research & Publications during the Tenth Plan period (2002-03 to 2006-07) and during the year 2007-08.

Annexure-V (29 KB) (PDF file that opens in a new window)

List of Seminars / Workshops / Conferences sponsored under the Scheme of Grant in aid Rules for Research & Publications during the Tenth Plan period (2002-03 to 2006-07) and during the year 2007-08.

Annexure-VI

List of Research / Evaluation Studies sponsored under the Scheme of Supporting Projects of All India or Inter-State Nature for the Scheduled Castes Development (Research & Training)during the the year 2007-08

Annexure-VII

List of Seminars / Workshops / Conferences sponsored under the Scheme of Supporting Projects of All India or Inter-State Nature for the Scheduled Castes Development (Research & Training) during the year 2007-08.