Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM AJAY) was formed by merging three existing schemes, namely, PMAGY (Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana), SCA to SCSP (Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan), and BJRCY (Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana—construction/repair of hostels) in 2021. These three schemes are now components of the blanket scheme PM AJAY.
PM-AJAY aims to reduce poverty of the scheduled caste (SC) communities by generating additional employment opportunities through skill development so that their socio-economic indicators may be improved. This scheme consists of three components—Development of SC dominated villages into an ‘Adarsh Gram’; Grants-in-aid for district/state-level projects; and construction of hostels in higher educational institutions, which are top-ranked according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Components of the Scheme
PM Adarsh Gram Yojana This scheme was introduced in 2009-10 to mainstream the socially and educationally deprived communities by strengthening them socially and economically. This scheme includes measures to remove any kind of social disabilities and to ensure equality and positive discrimination to bring them on par with the rest of the population. This scheme is in line with the provisions of the Constitution (Articles 46 and 38(2) of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). Most of the schemes of the governments after independence have concentrated on the individual development of the people of the communities, but this scheme focuses on the integrated development of the scheduled caste pockets. The scheme is implemented in all states except Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
Elements of Adarsh Gram
- Convergence of schemes will help achieve both the objectives of adequate infrastructure and improved social indicators.
- Gap-filling funds will help undertake infrastructure developmental requirements of the selected villages which cannot be met under any other existing schemes.
The scheme also includes income-generation to boost entrepreneurship among SCs, skill development programmes, infrastructural development, monitoring, and evaluation. Villages can become ‘Adarsh Grams’ if all the 50 indicators have been achieved under the domains—i) Drinking Water and Sanitation, ii) Education, iii) Health and Nutrition, iv) Social Security, v) Rural Roads and Housing, vi) Electricity and Clean Fuel, vii) Agricultural Practices, viii) Financial Inclusion, ix) Digitisation, and x) Livelihood and Skill Development.
A village with more than 40 per cent of the SC population and a total population greater than 500 will be eligible for selection. The needs and gaps in a village are identified through village development plans (VDPs). Every selected village will be provided with Rs 21 lakh—20 lakh for the ‘gap-filling’ and 1 lakh for administrative expenses. Monitoring will be done through a well-defined structure.
Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects The main aim of this component is the socio-economic betterment of SCs. The objectives of this component are
- to increase the income of the target population with income-generating schemes, skill development, and infrastructure development;
- to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure in SC-dominated villages; and
- increase literacy by encouraging the enrolment of SCs in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
Families which have annual incomes of less than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum should be given priority while choosing beneficiaries. It also aims at constructing or expanding of residential schools in SC-concentrated districts.
Construction/Repair of Hostels The construction of hostels is one of the major means to encourage students belonging to SCs to pursue quality education. The major aim of this component is to reduce the dropout rate, and increase enrolment, especially among girls. Such hostels are very helpful for students coming from rural and interior areas. Most of the students from such places cannot attend schools/colleges as day scholars due to inaccessibility. 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. The Scheme for hostels for boys and girls was being implemented as Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY). The construction of new hostels or repair of the existing hostels is part of this component. These hostels are expected to reduce the dropout rates of students. Top-ranking higher education institutions under central government and state institutions are eligible under this scheme. New hostels should be completed before 27 months after starting.
Parts of the Scheme
Appraisal, monitoring, evaluation, and social audit are important parts of this scheme. Advisory committees will be constituted for overall guidance and monitoring of the scheme at the central and state level. The Central Advisory Committee would be headed by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E); whereas, the State Advisory Committee may be headed by the state minister for SJ&E. They should meet once a year. The project appraisal-cum-convergence Committees (PACC) will implement the scheme and will be responsible for the appraisal of Action Plans, their implementation as well as their monitoring, including convergence at all levels. There will be central, state, and district-level appraisal-cum-convergence committees. There will be a village-level convergence committee as well.
To implement and monitor the scheme, there will be a centralised management information system (MIS) portal to capture the data of each component of the scheme. It will have the facility to record the physical and financial progress of the selected projects. MIS will be linked to the various dashboards of the government. The states/UTs are required to upload the details of unspent balance, and fund requirements for taking up the activities under various projects. Necessary training sessions on the MIS system for persons responsible for the implementation of the scheme will be conducted from time to time. NITI Aayog or any other organisation recommended can evaluate the performance of the scheme. Social audits should be undertaken by Gram Sabha at least once every year to ensure transparency.
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