Lok Sabha Question No. 3757 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Funds under the PM-AJAY in Maharashtra
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3757 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025

## FUNDS UNDER THE PM-AJAY IN MAHARASHTRA

## 3757. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that no funds have been released to the State of Maharashtra under the Adarsh Gram component of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) scheme during the financial year 2024-25;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor, despite the generation of 66 Village Development Plans (VDPs) in Maharashtra out of 3495 VDPs generated nationwide;
- (c) whether the Government has received any proposals from the State of Maharashtra under the hostel component of PM-AJAY during the financial year 2024-25;
- (d) if not, the reasons for non-submission of proposals by the State; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure timely fund release and active participation of Maharashtra in both components of the PM-AJAY scheme?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): As per the PM-AJAY scheme guidelines and the Department of Expenditure's instructions, funds under the Adarsh Gram component are released to States/UTs only if there is no unspent balance in their Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts and all Utilization Certificates for previous releases have been submitted. Since the State of Maharashtra had an unspent balance, no funds could be released during the financial year 2024-25 under the Adarsh Gram component of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) scheme.
- Since 2018-19, Rs. 51.29 crore has been released to the State Government of Maharashtra for generation of VDPs and implementation of gap-filling activities. Of the 515 villages selected, 345 villages development plan (VDPs) have been generated and 267 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram.

(c) & (d): As per the scheme guidelines of PM-AJAY, under Hostel component proposals are required to be submitted by the respective State Government/UT Administration/Central Universities to the Department on the dedicated PM-AJAY portal. During the financial year 2024-25, no proposal has been received from the State of Maharashtra.

(e): To ensure timely release of funds to the States, the Government has introduced a new fund flow mechanism, i.e., SNA SPARSH (just in time release) which addresses the non-release of funds due to funds lying unutilised.

To ensure the active participation of Maharashtra in both components of the PM-AJAY scheme, National Conferences/ Chintan Shivirs and Regional Conferences are organised with the participation of States and Union Territories. Monthly reviews are conducted through meetings and video conferences with States/UTs, complemented by regular state-wise performance tracking. Further, oversight by committees at the Central, State, District, and District levels ensures their active involvement in monitoring and effective implementation of the scheme.

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