Lok Sabha Question No. 1466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: PM Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

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## GOVERNMENT OF II\IDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1466 TO BE AI{SWERED ON 09.12.2025

## PM ANUSUCHIT JAATI ABHYUDAY  YOJANA

## 1466. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether the Govemment is implementing  Pradhan  Mantri  Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) and other targeted schemes for socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes  including  scholarships,  skill development  and enhepreneurship  support;
- (b) whether SC beneficiaries have been covered  under PM-AJAY in the districts  of Katni, Panna and town of Khajuraho  Lok Sabha  Constituency, if so, the details of the number  of beneficiaries;
- (c) the details  of employment  or self-employment  outcomes achieved by beneficiaries  in these  districts  after receiving assistance  and if coverage  or outcomes  are weak, the reasons therefor  and corrective actions planned; and
- (d) the action taken by the Govemment  to shengthen post-training  handholding, credit access and market linkages  for SC beneficiaries  in these districts?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Yes, the Government is implementing  the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana  (PM-AJAY) and other targeted Schemes namely,  Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students, Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes  & Others, SHREYAS (Scholarships for Higher Education  for Young Achievers), SHRESHTA  (Scheme for Residential  Education for Students in High Schools  in Targeted  Areas), Venture  Capital Fund for SCs, and loans at concessional  rates and credit-based  schemes  through the National  Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation  (NSFDC) to ensure integrated socio-economic uplifonent  of  Scheduled Castes  including scholarships,  skill development  and enhepreneurship support.

- (b): As reported by the State Govemment  of Madhya Pradesh, under the Adarsh Gram component of PM-AJAY,  a total of 61  ,5  I 8 beneficiaries  have been covered  in the districts of Katri and Panna, and town of Khajuraho Lok Sabha Constituency  of Madhya Pradesh. Under the Grantin-Aid  component of PM-AJAY,  156 beneficiaries  have been supported  during 2024-25 in these districts.  Furthermore, sirce 202112, a total of t hostels  have been sanctioned  under the Hostel component of PM-AJAY, benefiting 650 SC students  in the region.

(c)  & (d): Financial  assistance  is provided  by this Departrnent  through National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)  in the form of loan, at concessional rate of interest to persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, having annual family  income up to Rs.3.00 lakhs, for income generating  activities, to promote self-employment  and support  SC persons engaged in small business units, for up-scaling and making it a profitable venture. Loans amounting  to Rs. 26,47,849.00  has been disbursed by NSFDC to 17 beneficiaries  for self-income generating  activities in the dishicts  of Katni, Panna and town of Khajuraho Lok Sabha Constituency  since  2023-24.

In addition,  the Ministry  of Social  Justice & Empowerment  launched the Venture  Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) in20l4-15 which provides concessional  funding  ({10 lakh-< 15 crore at 4oZ interest) to promote SC entrepreneurship,  with Industrial  Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) Venture as the implementing  agency. ln 2020, the Ambedkar Social  Innovation  Incubation  Mission  (ASIIM) sub-scheme was introduced  to support innovative  ideas from SC youth with grants up to {30 lakh. So far, 558 SC entrepreneurs, including  174 women,  have benefited  from these initiatives  across the country. Further,  as the PM-AJAY Scheme is implemented by State Govemments,  the Department provides a comprehensive post-training support ecosystem  that integrates handholding,  credit facilitation, and market linkages for SC beneficiaries, including those in Katni, Pann4  and Khajuraho  in Madhya Pradesh.  Since 2021-22, an amount of Rs. 1511.00 lakhs has been released to the State of Madhya Pradesh under Grant-in-aid component  of PM-AJAY.  Access to credit is facilitated  through agencies  such as NSFDC,  Credit  Enhancement  Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes  (SCs),  and Pradhan  Mantri Mudra Yojana, which provide concessional  loans, micro-financing  below <50,000,  and term loans above <50,000. Additionally, steps have been taken to simpli$ access to credit through PM SURAJ-a digital  interface for all financial inclusion Schemes  of the Departrnent of Social Justice & Empowerment and providing mentorship support and market linkages to strengthen the entrepreneurial  ecosystem  for Scheduled Castes  and other marginalized communities.

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