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title: PID-97

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The full name of the Social Justice Department of Maharashtra is Social Justice & Special Assistance Department [1]. It is a ministry of the Government of Maharashtra that is responsible for welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society, especially the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Denotified Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, and Persons with Disabilities [1][2]. The department implements various schemes and programs for the upliftment and integration of these groups, such as scholarships, hostels, loans, awards, pensions, and special assistance [3].

The current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, is also the Minister of Social Justice & Special Assistance [1][4]. He is assisted by a Minister of State, who is currently vacant since June 2022 [5]. The department is headed by a Secretary, who is currently Sumant Bhange (IAS) [1]. The department's headquarters is located in Mantralaya, Mumbai [1][6].

The Ministry of Special Assistance is another ministry of the Government of Maharashtra that is responsible for welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society [7]. It is headed by a cabinet-level minister, who is currently Hasan Mushrif [7][8]. However, it is unclear whether this ministry has been renamed or merged with the Ministry of Social Justice & Special Assistance. The official website of the Social Justice & Special Assistance Department of Maharashtra is sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in [1][6][9].

Source:

[1] https://sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in/en/

[2] https://sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in/en/schemes-categories

[3] https://sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in/en/schemes-page

[4] https://sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in/en/scheme-category/special-assistance 

[5] https://bing.com/search?q=Ministry+of+Social+Justice+and+Special+Assistance+Maharashtra+functions

[6] https://sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in/

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Social_Justice_%28Maharashtra%29

[8] https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ministry_of_Special_Assistance_%28Maharashtra%29

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Special_Assistance_%28Maharashtra%29