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• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme 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).

Scheme has three components 

• Development of SC dominated villages into an “Adarsh Gram”.
• ‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs that may include creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages including those selected 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 Government of India and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially. Similarly, construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education.

Objectives of  Adarsh Gram Component {erstwhile Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana} –

• The objective of this component is to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that, inter alia, there is:, Adequate infrastructure, All requisite infrastructure necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme. Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
• The identified socio-economic indicators, known as Monitorable indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to atleast that of the National average.
• More specifically, all BPL SC families should have food and livelihood security, all SC children should complete education at least up to the secondary level, all factors leading to maternal and infant mortality are addressed and incidence of malnutrition, especially among children and women, is eliminated.

Special Provisions:

•  Upto 15% of the total Grants exclusively on viable income generating economic development schemes/programme for SC Women.
• Upto 30% of the total Grants utilized for infrastructure development
• Atleast 10% of the total funds for skill development
• Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.

Source- PIB