Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 34 residential hostels across various states and central institutes.
• Among these, 28 hostels cater to SC students, providing accommodation for 3150 girls and 750 boys and 6 hostels are dedicated to OBC students, offering facilities for 396 girls.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing schemes for Construction/Repair of Educational Hostels for SC students (Under PM-AJAY) and Construction of Educational Hostels for OBC boys and girls.

 ABOUT PRADHAN MANTRI ANUSUCHIT JAATI ABHUYDAY YOJANA (PM-AJAY)

• It is a comprehensive scheme amalgamating three Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
• This initiative was launched in the fiscal year 2021-22.
• Nodal ministry- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Objectives of the Scheme-
  • The main objective of the scheme is to increase the income of the target population by way of various income generating schemes, skill development and infrastructure development.
  • To reduce the poverty among the target population and bring them above the poverty lines.
• It is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented since 2021-22 as three components, which are as under:-
  • Development of SC dominated villages into an ‘Adarsh Gram’ component.
  • ‘Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs’ component.
  • ‘Construction of Hostels in Higher Educational Institutions’component.