Lok Sabha Question No. 4878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4878 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2025

## PRADHAN MANTRI ANUSUCHIT JAATI ABHYUDAY YOJANA

4878. SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) on the reduction of poverty of the SC communities by the generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development in 2024;
- (b) the details and the improvement of socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC-dominated villages in 2024;
- (c) the details and the number of villages benefited under the development of SC-dominated villages into Adarsh Gram Component of the PM-AJAY in 2024;
- (d) the details of the increased literacy and enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing residential facilities under the PM-AJAY in 2024; and
- (e) the details of the financial support for Monitoring and Evaluation of the PM-AJAY scheme in 2024?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a): Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented since 2021-22. The Scheme has three components namely (1) 'Adarsh Gram', (ii) 'Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of Scheduled Caste (SC) Communities' and (iii) 'Hostel'. The objectives of the Scheme are:
- (i) To improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.
- (ii) To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.

(iii) To increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools where required, especially in the aspirational districts/ SC dominated blocks and elsewhere in India.

Skill development is one of the interventions covered under Grants-in-aid Component of the Scheme. 25 States have submitted Perspective Plans for 2023-24, 2024-25 & 2025-26 and Rs. 457.82 Crore has been released for 8146 projects including 987 projects for skill development during 2023-24 & 2024-25 under Grants-in aid Component.

(b) & (c): In 2021-22, the erstwhile scheme of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana has been subsumed under the umbrella Scheme Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). The villages having more than 40% SC population and a total population of 500 or more are eligible for selection under the Scheme. The selected villages are saturated with identified 50 Socio-Economic developmental indicators, under 10 domains namely Drinking Water and Sanitation, Education, Health and Nutrition, Social Security, Rural Roads and Housing, Electricity and Clean Fuel, Agricultural Practices, Financial Inclusion, Digitization, Livelihood and Skill Development, which are the minimum requirements for any person residing in a village. Since 2018-19, 29,847 villages have been selected out of which 11,076 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram. During 2024-25, 4,991 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram.

(d): The Hostel Component aims to increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools where required. Till now, 891 hostels have been sanctioned under PM-AJAY of which 27 hostels have been sanctioned during 2024-25.

(e): Under PM-AJAY, upto 5% of the total funds is allocated for Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Scheme. During 2024-25, Rs. 6.64 Crore has been utilized as Administrative expense under PM-AJAY.

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