The government continues its efforts to improve the socio-economic status of Scheduled Caste communities, as part of this initiative, 47,316 villages across India have been covered under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana’ (PM-AJAY), benefiting 4,759,399 citizens.
Under the Adarsh ​​Gram component of this scheme, 46,782 development works have been completed, and 24,133 village development plans have been prepared. So far, 16,759 villages have been declared ‘Adarsh ​​Grams’ following improvements in infrastructure, basic services, and the quality of life.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has allocated ₹22.50 crore for the year 2026-27 for three hostel projects (including two hostels for girls) aimed at providing accommodation facilities for 750 Scheduled Caste students. Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar stated that the objective of PM-AJAY is to reduce socio-economic disparities through community participation, livelihood support, education, and infrastructure development.
This scheme comprises three main components: ‘Adarsh ​​Gram’ for village development, ‘Grants-in-Aid’ for livelihood and skill development activities, and ‘Hostel Assistance’ to improve access to education for SC students. The Ministry is implementing PM-AJAY through digital platforms such as the PM-AJAY portal and the AJAY mobile application to ensure transparent monitoring of projects, tracking of funds, and geo-tagged reporting.
(PIB)
