Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar chairs Central Advisory Committee (CAC) for Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Castes Abyudaya Yojana (PM-AJAY)

The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) for Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Castes Abyudaya Yojana (PM-AJAY) met under the chairmanship of Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and Chairman of the CAC. The meeting discussed the progress of the scheme and to prepare strategies for socio-economic upliftment of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme was launched in 2021-22 by merging three existing schemes:

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

Objectives

• Generate additional employment opportunities for SC communities through skill development, income-generating schemes, and other initiatives.
• Ensure the development of adequate infrastructure and necessary services in the SC-dominated villages.
• Increase literacy and encourage SCs enrolment in schools and higher educational institutions by providing residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools in aspirational districts and SC-dominated blocks.

The scheme consists of three broad components:

1. Development of SC Dominated Villages into “Adarsh Gram”.
2. Adarsh Gram aims to provide all basic services and infrastructure, ensuring dignified living and reducing disparities, enabling residents to reach their full potential.
3. A total of 29881 villages have been covered under this component and out of these, 6087 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram.

Grants-in-aid to State/Districts: The main objectives of this component are:

• Increase Income: By implementing comprehensive livelihood projects for the target population.
• Improve Socio-Economic Indicators: Through the creation of adequate infrastructure in SC-dominated villages.
• Promote Education: By increasing literacy and encouraging SC enrolment in schools, especially by providing residential schools where needed.
• The central assistance of Rs. 3242.07 Cr have been released and a total of 850611 beneficiaries have benefited from the assistance.

Construction/Repair of Hostels

• Building and repairing hostels aims to support SC students, especially those from rural and remote areas, in obtaining quality education.
• The construction of hostels for SC girls has been in operation since the Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66).
• Hostels for SC boys were introduced in 1989-90, providing essential accommodation for students pursuing education away from home.
• Since 2021-22, a total number of 46 hostels have been sanctioned for 5185 beneficiaries, and an amount of Rs. 126.30 crores have been released under the Hostel Component of PM-AJAY.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Income Generating Schemes and Skill Development Programmes: Persons from Scheduled Castes (SC) living below the poverty line are eligible for benefits.
2. Infrastructure Development: Villages with 50% or more SC population are eligible for grants under the scheme.
3. Poverty Line Definition and Beneficiary Selection: The guidelines from the former Planning Commission and the Ministry of Rural Development’s procedure for selecting SC families below the poverty line, through Panchayati Raj institutions, should be followed.