Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

About PM-AJAY:

• It is a comprehensive initiative by the Government of India, launched in FY 2021-22, aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• It is a merger scheme of three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes, 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).
• Implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the scheme focuses on reducing poverty, enhancing educational opportunities, and improving infrastructure in SC-dominated areas.
• The objectives of the Scheme are to:
  • Reduce poverty of the SC communities by generating additional employment opportunities through skill development, income-generating schemes, and other initiatives.
  • Improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC-dominated villages.
  • Increase literacy and encourage enrollment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools where required, especially in the aspirational districts/SC-dominated blocks and elsewhere in India.
• The scheme is 100% funded by the Central Government. However, the States/UTs are free to provide additional funds from their own resources if they so desire.
• The states are required to submit their Annual Action Plans (AAPs) through the PM-AJAY portal in order to receive funds from the central government.
• The planning process is decentralized, allowing for the creation and approval of projects at both state and district levels.
• Key Components:
  • Adarsh Gram Development: Transforming SC-majority villages into ‘Adarsh Grams’ (model villages) by filling critical gaps in infrastructure and services.​
  • Grants-in-Aid for Socio-Economic Projects: Providing financial assistance for district/state-level projects aimed at the socio-economic betterment of SCs.
  • This includes:​
    • Creation of infrastructure in SC-dominated villages
    • Construction of hostels/residential schools
    • Comprehensive livelihood projects, including skill development and related infrastructure.​
    • Financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for asset acquisition/creation required for livelihood generation.​
  • Construction of Hostels: It includes building hostels in higher educational institutions ranked under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments, schools funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments, and recommended by the Ministry of Education.​
  • Financial support for monitoring and evaluation of the Scheme implementation through the Administrative Head of the Scheme.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • The SC persons living below the poverty lines are eligible for getting benefits under the various income-generating schemes and skill development programmes.
  • In case of Infrastructure Development, the villages having 50% or more SC population are eligible for grants under the Scheme.