Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) has been implemented from 2021-22.

Objectives:

1. To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.
2. To improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.
3. To increase literacy and encourage enrolment 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.

 Present position:

1. State needs to submit their Annual Action Plan (AAP) in online mode through the web-portal https://pmajay.dosje.gov.in.
2. Login credentials for State and District Level Officers has been sent to email of Principal Secretary of the States.
3. There are two id's for each level (State/District). One for creation of projects and another for its approval.
4. De-centralised planning will be used for creation of projects.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Combination of Three Schemes:

The scheme is a merger of 3 Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely:

1. Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY).
2. Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP).
3. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).

Components:

The Scheme has three components:

1. Development of SC dominated villages into an “Adarsh Gram”: The objective is to ensure the integrated development of SC majority villages, ensuring they have sufficient infrastructure.

2. Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects:

• To increase the income of the target population by way of comprehensive livelihood projects.
• Improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure in the SC dominated villages.
• Increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools by providing residential schools where required.

3. Construction/Repair of Hostels in higher educational institutions:

• The construction of hostels is one of the means to enable and encourage students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) to attain quality education.
• Such hostels are immensely beneficial to the students hailing from rural and remote areas of the country.
• While the component of construction of hostels for SC girls is in operation from the Third Five Year Plan (1961-66), the same for boys was started with effect from the year 1989-90.

Special Provisions:

1. Upto 15% of the total Grants exclusively on viable income generating economic development schemes/programme for SC Women.
2. Upto 30% of the total Grants utilized for infrastructure development
3. At least 10% of the total funds for skill development
4. Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.

Achievements during the current Financial Year 2023-24:

1. During the current FY2023-24, 1834 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram under the Adarsh Gram Component.
2. The Hostel component of the scheme has sanctioned 15 new hostels.
3. The Grant-in-aid component has approved a perspective plan for 17 states for the current financial year.

Coverage:

1. Scheme implemented in 28 States/UTs.
2. Not Covered States/UTs:

1. States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya & Mizoram
2. UTs: A & N Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Ladakh& Lakshadweep.

Must Check: Best IAS Coaching In Delhi