​Which portal has been launched by the Government of India to directly give financial assistance to people from marginalized communities?​

Correct option is A

The correct answer is: (a) PM-SURAJ

Explanation:

• The PM-SURAJ (Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan) portal was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 13, 2024.

• The portal aims to provide direct financial assistance to individuals from marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Safai Mitras (sanitation workers).

• On its launch day, financial assistance amounting to ₹720 crore was directly transferred to the bank accounts of 1 lakh beneficiaries across more than 500 districts in India.

• The initiative is part of the government's broader effort to empower marginalized communities by facilitating entrepreneurship and employment opportunities through credit support.

Information Booster:

• Launched by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

• Target Beneficiaries: Individuals from SC, ST, OBC communities, and Safai Mitras.

• Key Features:

  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency and eliminate intermediaries.

  • Credit support for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

  • Distribution of Ayushman Health Cards and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to Safai Mitras under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE).

• Objective: To promote social upliftment and economic empowerment of marginalized communities by providing them with financial assistance and resources for livelihood development.

Additional Information:

• (b) PM-USHA: This acronym does not correspond to any known government scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to marginalized communities.

• (c) SAMARTH: While SAMARTH is a scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it focuses on skill development and vocational training for marginalized communities, not direct financial assistance.

• (d) SWAYAM: SWAYAM is an initiative by the Government of India to achieve the three cardinal principles of education policy, namely, access, equity, and quality. It is an online platform for courses and does not provide direct financial assistance to marginalized communities.