Objectives of the Scheme:

The objectives of the Scheme are to:

a. Reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.

b. Improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.

c. 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.

Scheme Components:

Broadly, the Scheme has following three components:

a. Development of SC dominated villages into an “Adarsh Gram”. (Chapter-2).

b. ‘Grants-in-aid' for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs that may include creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages including those selected under Adarsh Gram component, construction of Hostels/Residential schools, Comprehensive Livelihood Projects which may include components such as Skill development, related infrastructure development, financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for acquisition/creation of assets required for livelihood generation etc., (Chapter –3).

c. Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions which are top-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of Government of India and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially. Similarly, construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education. . (Chapter –4).

d. Financial support for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Scheme implementation through the Administrative Head of the Scheme: The funds provided under the “administrative expenses” Head of the Scheme will be utilized for the following purposes:

i. Development of a suitable Centralized MIS software for the scheme including costs towards setting up of Technical Support Group (TSG) for this purpose;

ii. Costs towards hiring of Institutions for Technical Resource Support, manpower and other expenses for running the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at Central/States/District level;

iii. Provision of Office equipment for the TSG and PIU including computer/IT facilities with internet connectivity, IEC activities, need assessment, and other expenses related to implementation of the scheme where absolutely necessary;

iv. Undertaking projects related to evaluation of the scheme implementation;

v. Social Audit of the scheme implementation.

Component wise fund allocation:

While giving priority to provide funds to the villages selected under the ‘Adarsh Gram’ component as per actual requirement in a particular year, the funds under the Scheme of PMAJAY will bebroadly distributed amongst its components as under:

a. Adarsh Gram: Up to 50% of the total allocated funds under the scheme to the States/UTs under Gap-filling activities for selected villages.

b. Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation: Up to 5% of the total allocated funds under the scheme for setting up and operation of the TSG and PIU at the Central level as well as Project Implementation Units (PIU) at the State and District level.

c. Construction/Repair of Hostels (not covered by the States): Up to 2% of the total allocated funds to be utilized for this purpose and released directly to the implementing agencies by the Ministry.

d. Grants-in-aids for the Projects at District/State: The balance available funds under the scheme will be provisionally allocated to the States/UTs in proportion to their SC Population (50% weightage) and on the basis of the ratio of Special Component Plan (now known as State SCSP) to the Annual Plan as compared to the SC population in the States/UTs (50% weightage).

Under the component (b) above, 1% of the funds shall be utilized at Central level and remaining 4% of the funds proportionate to the applicable Central Assistance to be released under respective components of the Scheme would be released to the State/UT Government.

In case of savings made under any component except (b) above, mentioned above, such funds shall be redistributed amongst other components/other States against viable proposals subject to other conditions laid down in the scheme guidelines are fulfilled.

For MIS and more details about the scheme,please visit https://pmajay.dosje.gov.in