Context: Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment has merged 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely: (a) Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) (b) Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) & (c) Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY) into Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana.
Aim of PM-AJAY Scheme
PM-AJAY scheme has been implemented since 2021-22 with an aim to:
- Aim to reduce poverty among the SC communities.
- Emphasizes on generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development,
- Income generating schemes to improve socio-economic developmental indicators
- Ensuring adequate infrastructure and services in the SC dominated villages.
Components of Scheme:
- Development of SC dominated villages into an “AdarshGram”.
- ‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs for:
- Creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages including those elected under Adarsh Gram component.
- Construction of Hostels/Residential schools, Comprehensive Livelihood Projects including components like Skill development, related infrastructure development, financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for asset creation needed for livelihood generation etc.
- Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions.
- Which are top-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially.
- Construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education
Details about the Components:
- Development of SC dominated villages in to an “AdarshGram” (previously Pradhan Mantri AdarshGram Yojana): Objective of Adarsh Gram Component is to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that there is:
- Adequate infrastructure
- All requisite infrastructures necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
- Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
- The identified socio-economic indicators, called as Monitorable indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to at least that of the National average. Specifically:
- all BPL SC families should have food and livelihood security.
- all SC children should complete education at least up to the secondary level.
- all factors leading to maternal and infant mortality are addressed.
- incidence of malnutrition, especially among children and women, is eliminated.
- The identified socio-economic indicators, called as Monitorable indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to at least that of the National average. Specifically:
- Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects component (previously scheme of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan): It aims at socio-economic development of SCs through grants for following types of projects:
- Comprehensive Livelihood Projects: To create an eco-system for producing sustainable income, or social advancement to the Scheduled Castes only shall be taken up. The projects should preferably be a combination of two or more of following:
- Skill Development: Skilling courses as per norms of MSDE. Related facilities and infrastructure for conducting Skill Development Activities conducted by the Government. Skill Development Institutions can also be funded.
- Grants for creation/acquisition of assets for beneficiaries/households: Standalone individual asset distribution under the scheme. However, if project has provision for acquisition/creation of assets for beneficiaries/households needed for livelihood generation, financial assistance towards loans taken by the beneficiary for such acquisition/creation assets, would be up to Rs.50,000 or 50% of the asset cost, whichever is less, per beneficiary/household.
- Infrastructure development: Development of infrastructure related to the project and Hostels and residential schools. Other infrastructure- Various other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages.
Special Provisions:
- Upto15%of the total Grants exclusively on viable income generating economic development schemes/programme for SC Women.
- Up to 30% of the total Grants utilized for infrastructure development, at least 10% of the total funds for skill development.
- Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.
3. Hostel Component {previously Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana}:
Objectives: Scheme for construction of hostels to enable and encourage Scheduled Caste students to attain quality education and reduce their dropout rate
Central assistance for construction:
| Northeastern Region: | Rs. 3.50 lakh per inmate |
| Northern Himalayan Regions: | Rs 3.25 lakh per inmate |
| Gangetic Plains & Lower Himalayan Region: | Rs3.00 lakh per inmate |
- Additionally, one time Grant of Rs. 5000/- per student for making provisions of cot, table etc.
- Repair and maintenance cost uptoRs.5.00lakh for a hostel of 50 inmates constructed under the scheme, once in 5 years.
Recent changes (Since2021-22): 100% Central assistance for hostels for boys’ hostels, earlier it was on cost sharing basis with State Implementing agencies.
Achievements during the current Financial Year2023-24
- A total of 1834 villages have been Declared as Adarsh Gram during the current FY2023-24 under Adarsh Gram Component.
- 15 new hostels have been sanctioned under Hostel component of the scheme.
- Perspective plan for 17 States have been approved under Grant-in-aid component during the current financial year.