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The Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment is advancing the socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY).

Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment Shri Sudhansh Pant said that under the Adarsh Gram Component, formerly implemented as the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, an amount of Rs. 3,545.103 Crore has been released from FY 2014-15 to date for 48,811 selected villages.

He said of these, 16,022 villages have been declared Adarsh Gram after achieving the prescribed developmental indicators in which the focus is on the integrated development of Scheduled Caste-majority villages by addressing critical gaps in infrastructure and essential services.

Shri Pant said under the Grant-in-Aid Component, formerly known as Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, an amount of Rs. 7,142.692 crore has been released to States and Union Territories from FY 2014-15 to date.

He said the assistance has benefited 34.61 lakh beneficiaries through skill development, livelihood promotion, income-generating projects and other initiatives aimed at enhancing economic opportunities for Scheduled Caste communities.

The Secretary further informed that under the Hostel Component, formerly implemented as the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, an amount of Rs. 498.215 crore has been released from FY 2014-15 to date for 244 hostels, covering 24,131 beneficiaries.

He added that the component supports the construction and expansion of hostel facilities to improve access to educational opportunities for students belonging to Scheduled Caste communities.

Highlighting the achievements during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, Shri Pant said during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 629.26 crore was released under the Adarsh Gram Component whileas 8,823 villages were declared Adarsh Gram.

The Secretary added that during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 705.638 crore was released to States and Union Territories under Grant-in-Aid Component, benefiting 1,782 persons.

Under Hostel Component, an amount of Rs. 80.115 crore was released for 46 hostels, covering 5,664 beneficiaries, during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26.

The Secretary informed that PM-AJAY has been implemented as a merged Centrally Sponsored Scheme since 2021-22 adding that it brings together three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).

He informed that the scheme is implemented through the Adarsh Gram, Grant-in-Aid and Hostel components and aimed to reduce poverty among Scheduled Caste communities by generating additional employment opportunities through skill development, income-generating activities and other developmental interventions.

Shri Pant further said it also seeks to improve socio-economic indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and essential services in Scheduled Caste-dominated villages.

The Secretary exuded confidence that through PM-AJAY, the Government remains committed to fostering inclusive development, expanding livelihood and educational opportunities, reducing poverty and improving the overall quality of life of Scheduled Caste communities across the country.

PR-129- TAR/KV/GA/RK

Official source

[Read the original PIB release](https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2312584)

Source attribution: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.