A meeting was held at 11:00 on the 19thth July 2023 at the Department of Empowerment of People with Disabilities, at the 5th Plan by Pandit Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 with Mr. Andrew Brown, Deputy Associate Minister for Employment and Social Development, Govt. of Canada with the secretaries of both departments of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India- Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Shri Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Department for Social Justice and Empowerment. The topics of discussion were to learn about the Ministry’s mandate in support of welfare, social justice and the emancipation of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
During the discussions, among other things, best practices and challenges on vocational training and employment of people with disabilities, social security schemes/programmes for older people including pensions, study, programs for the homeless population. Particular emphasis was given by both the DEPwD and D/o SJ&E secretaries on the payment of benefits to beneficiaries directly through the digital/DBT modality by the government. of India.
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MG/PD