News Views
News Views
Prime Minister ' s Scheduled Caste Abhyuday Scheme
The Prime Minister ' s Scheduled Caste Abhyuday Scheme( PM- AJAY) is a centrally sponsored scheme that has been implemented since 2021-22. This scheme has three components: Model Villages, Grant assistance for district / state level projects for socio-economic betterment of Scheduled Caste( SC) communities, and Hostels.
According to Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, the scheme aims to improve socio-economic development indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and necessary services
48 vizSy 2025 in SC-majority villages. It also focuses on creating additional employment opportunities for Scheduled Caste communities by offering skill development, income generation schemes, and other initiatives, as well as providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions.
In the financial year 2024-25, 4,928 villages have been declared as Model Villages, and 4,25,821 beneficiaries have been benefited, ensuring adequate infrastructure and services for socioeconomic development in SC-majority villages. The ' Grant Assistance ' component aims to reduce poverty in SC communities by creating additional employment opportunities through skill development and income generation schemes. Since 2021-22, 9,549 projects have been approved under this component, benefiting 2,01,006 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, with a central assistance of 1,219.80 crore rupees.
Under the hostel component of PM- AJAY, 866 hostels have been approved, covering 69,212 beneficiaries, with 936.27 crore rupees allocated to encourage Scheduled Caste students to pursue quality education. Of the approved hostels, 96 are under construction.