Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM – AJAY)

Context:

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM – AJAY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the welfare of Scheduled Caste (SC) population.  

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM – AJAY):

• Launched in 2021-22.
• Launched by – Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme

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

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

Objectives –

• To increase the income of SC population by income generating schemes, skill development and infrastructure development.
• To reduce the poverty among the SC population and bring them above the poverty lines.
• To increase literacy and enrolment of SCs in schools and higher education institutions.
  

Eligibility: 

• priority is given to families having annual income not more than Rs. 2.50 lakh
• SHGs having SC majority members will also be eligible.

Special Provisions:

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

Components: The Scheme has three components:

• Development of SC dominated villages into an “Adarsh Gram”: 
  • It aims to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that they have adequate infrastructure.

• Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects:
  • It offers financial support for district or state-level projects with the aim to improve the socio-economic conditions of SC communities.
  • This may include the construction of infrastructure in SC-dominated villages, including those chosen under the Adarsh Gram component as well as the establishment of hostels and residential schools.
• Construction of hostels in higher educational institutions:
  • Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions which are top-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. 
  • schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education
    

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

• 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:
  • 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: 
    • There shall be no 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 of assets, would be upto 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.
• Other infrastructure- 
  • Various other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages.

 Source: PIB