What is PM-AJAY?
The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment since 2021-22, aimed at the socio-economic development of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. It was formed by merging three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (Hostel scheme).
Objective
To accelerate the socio-economic development of SC communities through integrated village development, livelihood generation and educational infrastructure, and to reduce the developmental gap between SC and other communities.
Components
- Adarsh Gram — integrated development of villages with a significant SC population, through saturation of 50 monitorable socio-economic indicators across 10 sectors including education, health, housing, drinking water, sanitation, electricity and connectivity, driven by community-led Village Development Plans.
- Grants-in-Aid — for district/state-level projects supporting livelihood generation, skill development and income-enhancing activities, and infrastructure creation (including in Adarsh Gram-selected villages).
- Hostel — financial assistance for the construction and repair of hostels to improve educational access for SC students.
Significance
- One of the principal instruments for SC welfare and rural infrastructure convergence under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Its convergence-based design allows it to leverage funding and delivery mechanisms of other Central and State government schemes for resource efficiency.
- Advances the constitutional commitment to the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes.