Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan ( SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana(BJRCY) and has been implemented since 2021-22 with an aim to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuringadequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages. Broadly, the Scheme has following three components:

1. Development of SC dominated villages in to an “AdarshGram”.
2. ‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs that may include creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages including thoses elected under Adarsh Gram component, construction of Hostels/Residential schools, Comprehensive Livelihood Projects which may include components such as Skill development, related infrastructure development, financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for acquisition/creation of assets required for livelihood generation etc.
3. Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions which aretop-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of Government of India and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially. Similarly, 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

 About Adarsh Gram Component {erstwhile Pradhan Mantri AdarshGram Yojana}

1. 1. The objective of this component is to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that, inter alia, there is:
   2. Adequate infrastructure
   3. All requisite infrastructures necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
   4. Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
2. 5. The identified socio-economic indicators, known as Monitor able 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. More 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 and incidence of malnutrition, especially among children and women, is eliminated.

1. 6. The particulars of the50 monitorable indicators under10 domains are:
      1. Drinking water and Sanitation
      2. Education
      3. HealthandNutrition
      4. Social Security
      5. Rural Roads and Housing
      6. Electricity and Clean fuel
      7. Agricultural Practices etc
      8. Financial Inclusion
      9. Digitization
      10. Livelihood and Skill Development

About Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of SCs {erstwhile scheme of Special CentralAssistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan}

The scheme aims at socio-economic development of SCs through grants for following types of projects:

1. Comprehensive Livelihood Projects: Such projects which create an entire 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 :
   1. Skill Development: Skilling courses as pernorms of MSDE. Related facilities and infrastructure forconducting Skill Development Activities conducted by the Government. Skill Development Institutions can also be funded.
   2. Grants for creation/acquisition of assets for beneficiaries/households: There shall be stand al one 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 also Hostels and residential schools.

2. Other infrastructure- Various other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages.

SpecialProvisions:

Upto15%ofthetotalGrantsexclusivelyonviableincomegenerating economic development schemes/programme for SC Women.

Upto30%ofthetotalGrantsutilizedforinfrastructuredevelopment  Atleast 10% of the total funds for skill development

Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.

 

Hostel Component {erstwhile scheme of Babu Jagjivan RamChhatrawas Yojana}

Objectives:-

Scheme for construction of hostels to enable and encourage Scheduled Caste students to attain quality education and reduce their dropout rate

Implemented through the State Governments, UT Administrations & Central   and State Universities/Institutions

Admissible Central assistance for construction

North Eastern Region:                                              Rs. 3.50 lakh per

Northern Himalayan Regions:                                Rs 3.25 lakh per

Gangetic Plains & Lower Himalayan Region:    Rs3.00 lakh per

One time Grant of Rs. 5000/- per student for making provisions of cot, table etc.

Repair and maintenance cost uptoRs.5.00lakh for an hostel of 50 inmates constructed under the scheme, once in 5 years

   Hostels to be completed within specified period of 27 months.

Recentchanges (Since2021-22)

100% Central assistance for hostels for boys ’hostels as well– earlier it was cost sharing with State

Implementing agencies to send proposals online through PMAJAY portal

Achievements during the current Financial Year2023-24

Under Adarsh Gram Component, a total of 1834 villages have been Declared as Adarsh Gram during the current FY2023-24.

A total of 15 new hostels has been sanctioned under Hostel component of the scheme.

Perspective plan for 17States have been approved under Grant-in-aid component during the current financial year.

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MG/MS/VL

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