Context
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the PM-AJAY portal and AJAY mobile application to improve transparency, monitoring, and digital delivery of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY).
About PM-AJAY Scheme
Salient Features
- PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2021-22 for the socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
- The scheme focuses on economic empowerment, skill development, educational support, and infrastructure development in SC-dominated areas.
- It was formed by merging three earlier schemes — Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
Coverage and Beneficiaries
- Scheduled Caste beneficiaries living below the poverty line are eligible for assistance under income-generation and skill-development programmes.
- Villages with 50% or more SC population are eligible for infrastructure-related grants under the scheme.
Key Interventions
- Development of SC-majority villages into ‘Adarsh Grams’ by addressing gaps in critical infrastructure and basic services.
- Financial assistance for livelihood activities, including skill development and asset creation.
- Grants for district and state-level socio-economic projects aimed at the welfare of Scheduled Castes.
- Construction of hostels and residential schools for SC students in institutions funded by the Centre, States, and Union Territories.
- The scheme also supports hostel facilities in institutions ranked under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
