Context:

The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) met to review the progress of the scheme and strategies for socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SC) communities across India.

About 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:

• Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCA to SCSP). 
• Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
• 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:

Development of SC Dominated Villages into “Adarsh Gram”:

• Adarsh Gram aims to provide all basic services and infrastructure, ensuring dignified living and reducing disparities, enabling residents to reach their full potential.
• 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.