Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a merged scheme of the three 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), said Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in a press release.
The scheme has been implemented since 2021-22 with the aim of reducing poverty in the SC communities through the generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income-generating schemes and other initiatives and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC-dominated villages.
Broadly, the scheme has the following three components: Development of SC-dominated villages into an “AdarshGram”;’Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs that may include the creation of infrastructure in SC-dominated villages including the 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.
Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions, which are top-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of the Government of India and are funded by the Union/State/UT Governments either fully or partially. Similarly, the construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Union/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education.
(with inputs from ANI)
