Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) - Adarsh Gram

• Gap-filling Fund: ₹20,00,000/- per newly selected village for carrying out infrastructure developmental requirements which cannot be carried out through convergence with other schemes.- Administrative Expenses: ₹1,00,000/- per village for technical resource support, training and capacity building, awareness generation, publicity, and Management Information System development and maintenance.- Additional Round Funding: ₹9,50,000/- per village for Gap-filling component and ₹50,000/- for administrative expenses after completion of 5 years for continuous development.- Convergence Support: Access to 3 to 4 times of Gap-filling funds from existing Central and State Schemes or matching grants from State Governments.- Infrastructure Development: Development of adequate infrastructure necessary for socio-economic development including drinking water, sanitation, education, health, rural roads, housing, electricity facilities.- Capacity Building: Training and orientation programs for Village Level Convergence Committee members and other functionaries.

##### *Disbursement*

• Direct transfer to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, then to District Administrations.
• Released in two installments - First installment (₹80,000/- or ₹40,000/- as applicable) immediately on selection of villages; Second installment (₹20,00,000/- or ₹9,50,000/- as applicable) after Village Development Plan finalization.
• Administrative expenses released at beginning of financial year; Gap-filling funds released after Village Development Plan approval.
• Gap-filling funds to be utilized within 2 years from date of release; convergent implementation continues for additional 3 years.

##### *Conditions*

• _Villages must maintain Open Defecation Free status and achieve score of 70 or above on monitorable indicators for declaration as Adarsh Gram._
• _Village Level Convergence Committee must conduct Need Assessment, data collection, gap analysis and prepare Village Development Plan in online mode._
• _Village Development Plan must be approved by Gram Sabha and District Level Convergence Committee._
• _State Governments and Union Territory Administrations must ensure convergence of at least 3 to 4 times of Gap-filling funds from other schemes._
• _Monthly progress reporting on fulfilling infrastructure and individual needs through prescribed formats._
• _Social audit by Gram Sabha at least once a year for transparency and better utilization._
• _Real-time updating of progress in centralized Management Information System portal._
• _Submission of utilization certificates in prescribed formats as per General Financial Rules 2017._

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• The village must have more than 40% Scheduled Caste population as per the latest available Census data.

• The village must have total population ≥ 500 as per the latest available Census data.
• The village must be willing to participate in convergence implementation with other Central and State Government schemes.
• The village must constitute Village Level Convergence Committee headed by Sarpanch or Pradhan of the village.
• The village must complete Need Assessment exercise for all 50 monitorable indicators across 10 developmental domains.
• The village must prepare comprehensive Village Development Plan through online portal https://pmagy.gov.in.
• The village must obtain approval of Village Development Plan from Gram Sabha.
• The village must get Village Development Plan approved by District Level Project Appraisal cum Convergence Committee.
• The village should commit to utilize Gap-filling funds within 2 years from date of release.
• The village should agree to continue convergent implementation for additional 3 years after fund utilization period.

*Selection Process*

Villages will be selected in descending order of their Scheduled Caste population percentage.

*Priority*

Villages having less than or equal to 40% Scheduled Caste population but overall high number of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes shall be taken up after covering eligible villages with more than 40% Scheduled Caste population.

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Step 1:** *Village Selection and Committee Formation***

• Check eligibility on web portal https://pmagy.gov.in for villages with more than 40% Scheduled Caste population and total population ≥ 500.
• Constitute Village Level Convergence Committee headed by Sarpanch including all Scheduled Caste Gram Panchayat members, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA workers, and line officials.
• Complete village registration on the centralized Management Information System portal with committee composition and demographic details.

Step 2:** *Need Assessment and Data Collection***

• Conduct comprehensive household-wise survey for all 50 socio-economic developmental monitorable indicators across 10 domains through Village Level Convergence Committee.
• Input collected data in Format I for village level data, Format II for infrastructural needs, and Format III-A for family and individual needs.
• Complete Format III-B as consolidation capturing all family and individual needs at village level with gap analysis.

Step 3:** *Village Development Plan Preparation and Approval***

• Prepare comprehensive Village Development Plan through auto-generation on portal based on inputs in all required formats. Present complete plan including infrastructure development, convergence planning, and Gap-filling requirements to Gram Sabha for formal approval.
• Obtain Gram Sabha resolution approving the Village Development Plan and upload approved plan with resolution on online portal.

Step 4:** *District Level Appraisal and Fund Release***

• Submit Gram Sabha approved Village Development Plan to District Level Project Appraisal cum Convergence Committee for technical appraisal and final approval.
• Receive first installment of ₹80,000/- for administrative expenses upon village selection to initiate capacity building and awareness activities.
• Obtain release of complete Gap-filling fund of ₹20,00,000/- after District Level Committee approval preferably in single installment.

Step 5:** *Implementation and Progress Monitoring***

• Execute approved infrastructure works using Gap-filling funds within 2 years while ensuring convergence with other Central and State schemes.
• Update monthly progress on infrastructure and individual needs fulfillment through Formats IV and V with real-time scoring in Format VI.
• Conduct annual social audit by Gram Sabha and submit progress reports, utilization certificates, and photographic evidence through online portal.

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