Name the group of policies and programs that seek to redress past injustices against specific groups by making special efforts to provide those groups with educational and employment opportunities.

Affirmative action.

Explanation:

The policies or programs that are constructed through  or 'positive discrimination'(on the basis of color, sex, etc.) by the government with the primary aim of increasing the various educational as well as employment opportunities as a compensation or redress for the injustices made in the past to the specific groups. The government makes these policies to improve the representation of minority groups in various domains like education, employment, etc. This helps promoting equity and establish a position for the groups who have been subjected to utter discrimination and subjugation in the past. Therefore, 'affirmative action' is the answer.