MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE &

EMPOWERMENT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE &

EMPOWERMENT

STATE REFERENCE
MANUAL
 Table of Contents
MESSAGE ............................................................................... 3-6
PREFACE..................................................................................... 7
Organogram .................................................................................. 8
Social Defense .............................................................................. 9
Name of the Scheme/Project .......................................................................... 9
1.1 National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) ................... 9
1.2 Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) .................................................... 18
1.3 Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
(SMILE) ......................................................................................................... 21
Scheduled Caste Division ....................................................................... 23
Name of the Scheme/Project ........................................................................ 23
2.1 Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in
Targeted Areas (SRESHTA) .......................................................................... 23
2.2 Scheme of Pre Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Caste Students studying
in classes 9th & 10 th .................................................................................... 25
2.3 Scheme of Post Matric Scholarships to the Students belonging to
Scheduled Castes for Studies in India (PMS-SC) ............................................ 27
2.4 State Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA-SCSP) .......... 29
2.5 Babu Jagjiwan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)...................................... 34
2.6 Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) ...................................... 41
2.7 The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 .................................................. 49
2.8 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)
(PoA) Act 1989 .............................................................................................. 50
2.9 NATIONAL OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP ....................................................... 52
2.10 Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for SC
students ........................................................................................................ 53
2.11 National Fellowship for Providing Fellowship to Scheduled Caste
Students ....................................................................................................... 59
2.12 Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC students ....... 62
Backward Class Division........................................................................ 66
Name of the Scheme/ Project ....................................................................... 66
3.1 Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Other Backward Classes for
Studies in India ............................................................................................. 66
1
 3.2 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students
for studying in India ...................................................................................... 67
3.3 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Dr Ambedkar Pre-Matric and Post-Matric
Scholarship for DNTs................................................................................................................ 68
3.4 Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarships
for the Economically Backward Class (EBC) Students .................................... 69
3.5 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and
Girls ............................................................................................................ 70
Senior Citizen Division ............................................................... 71
Name of the Scheme/ Project ....................................................................... 71
4.1 Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)....................................................... 71
4.2 National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC) ................................... 73
4.3 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) ............................................................. 76
Plan Division .............................................................................. 78
Name of the Scheme/ Project ....................................................................... 78
5.1 PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) .. 78
5.2 Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
(SRMS) .......................................................................................................... 80

2
 MESSAGE

Dr. Virendra Kumar

Union Minister, MoSJE

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is committed to build an

inclusive and equitable society. I am happy to work for the under privileged
and marginalised sections of the society whose life is full of struggle and
difficulty.
The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has a specific mandate
to reach out and work for the socially, educationally and economically
marginalised segments of the society including (i) Scheduled Castes (ii)
Other Backward Class (iii) Senior Citizens (iv) Victims of Substance
Abuse (v) Welfare of Transgender Persons (vi) People involved in the act
of Begging (vii) De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) (viii) Economically
Backward Classes (EBCs) and (xi) Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
Focussed efforts have been made by DoSJ&E in implementing various
schemes for the welfare of the target group. In this regard, The “State
Reference Manual” will further help the states to implement the schemes
better and the standardized procedures will act as a guiding principle for
effective execution of the schemes. Our objective is to transform quality
of life, infrastructure and services provided to the target group. In this, I
seek your blessings and continued support.

Dr. Virendra Kumar 3

Union Minister, M oSJE
 MESSAGE

Shri. Ramdas Athawale

Minister of State, MoSJE

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E), caters for

empowerment of the Scheduled Castes, Manual Scavengers & Safai
Karamcharies including Waste Pickers. The Department of Social Justice
and Empowerment shall be the nodal Department for the overall policy,
planning and coordination of programmes for the development of these
target groups. Most of the persons of these group are having minimal
economic assets; therefore, provision of training and enhancing their
competencies is essential for economic empowerment/ upliftment of these
marginalized target groups.

The objective is to provide assistance to the identified manual scavengers

and their dependants for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations. The
schemes/projects aim to increase the skill levels of the target section by
providing for long term and short term skills, followed by settlement in
employment/self-employment.

The State Reference Manual will help facilitate smooth functioning and
create a congenial work environment between Centre, State & District
administration.

4
Shri. Ramdas Athawale
Minister of State, MoSJE
 MESSAGE

Shri A. Narayanaswamy
Minister of State MoSJE

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been implementing

various programmes/schemes for social, educational and economic
development of the deprived section of the society. As a result, there has
been a considerable improvement in the welfare of these groups.

The objective is to foster public sensitivity towards issues related to

marginalised sections of society, victims of substance abuse, welfare of
Scheduled Castes and strengthening effective service delivery to
empower these sections.

The State Reference Manual will serve as the reference document to

implement all the schemes strategically and act as the Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) for any state/district administration to
implement the schemes in an efficient manner.

Shri A. Narayanaswamy
Minister of State MoSJE

5
 MESSAGE

Smt. Pratima Bhoumik

Minister of State, MoSJE

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is entrusted with the

welfare, social justice and empowerment of the disadvantaged and
marginalized sections of the society viz. Backward Classes, Senior
Citizens, and Victims of Drug Abuse, welfare of Transgender Persons &
People Engaged in the act of Begging etc.

This State Reference Manual will drive the culture that consistently and
effectively implements the schemes/programs with precision & rigor. The
objectives of these schemes/programs are well illustrated in the manual
that have to be acted upon routinely.

Through this document DOSJE aims to work towards a wider

dissemination of information in the field of elderly care, welfare of
backward classes and other social justice issues

Smt. Pratima Bhoumik

Minister of State, MoSJE 6
PREFACE

Shri R. Subrahmanyam
Secretary, MoSJE

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is entrusted with the

empowerment of the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the
society. The vision of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is to
build an inclusive society wherein members of the target groups can lead
productive, safe and dignified lives with adequate support for their growth
and development. The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
(DoSJE) aims to support and reach out to its target groups through
educational, economic and social development programmes and ensure
their rehabilitation wherever necessary.

The purpose of this document is to acquaint the readers with the schemes
and programmes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
(DoSJE) and give a deeper understanding into each scheme’s &
programmes' objectives, target groups and implementation process. This
document will also give insights into the outcomes, roles & responsibilities
and the expectations from the state governments under the mentioned
schemes & programmes. The central idea behind this State manual is that
it will serve as a ready reference to the officers of State looking after these
schemes which is essential to achieve better outcomes.

I hope that this State manual would be useful in furthering the Schemes
intended for welfare, empowerment and mainstreaming the vulnerable
and marginalised sections of the society.

Shri R. Subrahmanyam
Secretary, MoSJE 7
 Organogram

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment

Social SC Division BC Division Sr. Citizen Planning

Defense Division Division

1. NAPDDR 1. Scholarships 1. OBC 1. AVYAY 1. PM-

2. Nasha 2. DNT 2. NAPSrC DAKSH
2. Free
Mukt Coaching 3. EBC 3. RVY 2. SRMS
Bharat 3. PMAGY 4. Scholarships
Abhiyaan 4. BJRCY 5. Hostels
(NMBA) 5. SCA to SCSP
3. SMILE 6. SRESHTA

Secretary

Additional Secretary

JS (Admin) JS (SCD-B) JS (SCD-A& BC) JS (SD) Sr. EA JS & FA

1. SRESHTA [Link] 1. OBC 1. NAPDDR 1. PM-DAKSH

2. Senior 2. Free 2. DNT 2. Nasha Mukt Bharat 2. SRMS
Citizen Coaching 3. EBC Abhiyaan (Welfare of
Division 3. PMAGY 4. Scholarships 3. SMILE (Welfare of Manual
4. BJRCY 5. Hostels Transgender Persons Scavengers)
5. SCA to & People Engaged in
SCSP the Act of Begging

8
Social Defense
Name of the Scheme/Project
1.1 National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction
(NAPDDR)
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been implementing the
National Action plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) with the objective
of creating awareness and educating people about the ill-effects of alcoholism
and substance abuse and for providing a whole range of community based
services for identification, motivation, counselling, de- addiction, after care and
rehabilitation for Whole Person Recovery (WPR) of the users.

The objectives and activities of scheme NAPDDR including all the initiatives
towards DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION in the country can be carried out
through Government of India, State/UT Governments, implementing agencies
like Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Non-Governmental Bodies (NGOs),
Trusts, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Autonomous organizations, Technical
Forums, Hospitals, Prison Administrations and so on.

Objectives of NAPDDR

Substance use disorders are a serious problem adversely affecting the social
fabric of the country. Dependence on substances not only affects the
individual’s health but also disrupts their families and the whole society. Of late,
the menace of substance dependence in the younger generation has been
rising all over the world and India is no exception to it. To combat this problem
robust scheme of NAPDDR has been formulated. The major objectives of
NAPDDR therefore are to:

1. Focus on preventive education, awareness generation, identification,

counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with substance
dependence, training and capacity building of the service providers
through collaborative efforts of the Central and State Governments and
Non-Governmental Organizations

2. Create awareness and educate people about the ill-effects of substance

dependence on the individual, family, workplace and the society at large
3. Reduce stigmatization of and discrimination against groups and
individuals dependent on substances in order to integrate them back into
the society
4. Develop human resource and build capacity to
9
 a. Provide for a whole range of community based services for
identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction, after care and
rehabilitation for Whole Person Recovery (WPR) of dependents;
b. Formulate and implement comprehensive guidelines, schemes,
and programmes using a multi-agency approach for drug demand
reduction;
c. Undertake drug demand reduction efforts to address all forms of
illicit use of any substances;
d. Alleviate the consequences of substance dependence amongst
individuals, family and society at large.
e. Facilitate research, training, documentation, innovation and
collection of relevant information to strengthen the above
mentioned objectives;
f. Formulate and implement comprehensive guidelines, schemes,
and programmes using a multi-agency approach for drug demand
reduction;
g. Undertake drug demand reduction efforts to address all forms of
illicit use of any substances;
h. Alleviate the consequences of substance dependence amongst
individuals, family and society at large.
i. Facilitate research, training, documentation, innovation and
collection of relevant information to strengthen the above
mentioned objectives;

Projects under NAPDDR-

1. Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA)
2. Outreach & Drop In Centre (ODIC)
3. Community Based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI)
4. District De-addiction Centre (DDAC) - Integrated form of all the de-
addiction institutions at district level. Treatment, Community
mobilisation, counselling institutions under one roof. These are new
projects which will come into effect from FY 2021-2022

10
 ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN UNDER THE NAPDDR

S. No. Actionable Point Outcome

1. Prevention
 Awareness building on the ill-effects of
substance use
Awareness generation programmes
 Early identification of substance use
in schools involving students,
among children
teachers and parents
 Reducing stigmatization of children
1.1  Sensitized parents & teachers

 Enhanced decision-making skills

Forming ‘Good Choices’ club in
 Inculcating Drug Refusal Skills
Schools
 Making good choices & habits

Awareness generation programmes

in Colleges (Aided/ Unaided) and  Weaning away youth from drug abuse
Universities (including Deemed)  Enhanced academic performance
/involving students, NSS volunteers
and faculties
1.2
 Awareness about ill effects of
Forming Anti-Drug bodies/clubs in substance abuse
colleges  Peers as allies towards addressing the
issue of substance abuse in youth in the
campuses
Persuading Principals/ Directors/
Vice Chancellors & others of
 Prevention of substance use
1.3 Educational Institutions (Aided/
 Drug Free & Sensitized campuses
Unaided) to ensure that no drugs are
sold within/nearby the campus
 Coverage of high risk and vulnerable
areas where prevalence of substance
Awareness generation programmes use is more widespread with an
1.4
in high risk and vulnerable areas expanded outreach
 Identification of hotspots and focused
intervention with vulnerable population

11
 Awareness generation programmes  Reduced instances of substance use at
1.5 at work places including corporate work places and increased productivity of
offices employees

Increasing community participation

and public cooperation in the
reduction of demand for dependence
producing substances by involving
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs),
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Govt  Intensifying sensitization programmes in
departments, Central/ State/ villages and urban areas etc.
Deemed/ Private Universities,  Involvement of stakeholders at community
Autonomous institutions, Social work level to deliver drug demand reduction
1.6
Institutions, Aided/ Unaided Colleges/ programmes.
Schools, Foundations and NGOs,  Involvement of youth in preventive
Medical/ Healthcare training education programmes.
institutions, Nehru Yuva Kendra
Sangathan (NYKS), National Service
Scheme (NSS), GIA institutions of
MSJE, and other local groups like
Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self
Help Groups etc
Awareness generation programmes
 Sensitization of law enforcement
for police/ prison functionaries, law
agencies
1.7 enforcement agencies, paramilitary
 Improved counselling by law enforcement
forces, judicial officers, BAR council
agencies
etc

Awareness generation through

social, print, digital and online media  Spreading messages against ill-effects of
1.8 and engagement of celebrities to substance use through intensive outreach
spread social messages against and well targeted campaigns.
substance use.

Coordination with implementing

agencies for controlling sale of
sedatives/ painkillers/ muscle  Monitored and regulated sale of
1.9 relaxant drugs and checking online prescriptions drugs like
sale of substances by stringent sedatives/painkillers etc
monitoring by the cyber cell

12
2. Capacity Building

 To provide forums for parents and equip

Workshops, Seminars and
2.1 them with necessary skills in dealing with
interactions with parents
substance abuse

 Early identification of substance use and

Training of teachers and counsellors
2.2 associated factors in school children
on different assessment tools
 Early intervention for prevention of use
Training programmes on de-
addiction counselling, rehabilitation
 Capacity building of people who work with
2.3 and other themes for social workers,
victims of drug abuse
functionaries of IRCAs/ DDACs,
working professionals etc.
Orientation Courses in the field of
drug abuse prevention for  Capacity building of staff of IRCAs/
2.4
functionaries of IRCAs/ DDACs DDACs/ ATFs
including nurses, ward boys etc.

 Development of a respectful, non-

judgmental and non-stigmatizing attitude
Training of staff in Prisons and of the staff
2.5
Juvenile Homes  To carry out drug demand reduction
measures that are based on scientific
evidence and are ethical

 Developing a core group of peer

educators to assist in dissemination of
Basic Training Course in awareness
accurate information about substances,
of substance use and dependency
their use, and issues of dependency,
2.6 associated health problems and
treatment options and for overall
various treatment approaches to
improvement of behavioural issues
prisoners.
associated with substances, within the
prison environment
Specialized training for those who
work with vulnerable groups, such as
 Focus upon specific needs of vulnerable
2.7 patients with psychiatric co-
groups for drug de-addiction treatment
morbidities, children and women,
including pregnant women

13
 Training programmes for police
functionaries, paramilitary forces,
 Capacity building of various agencies on
2.8 judicial officers, bar council,
substance use prevention
representatives of PRIs and ULBs on
substance use prevention

Basic Orientation program on ODIC  Capacity building program for staffs under
2.9
and CPLI schemes ODIC and CPLI

Training of on Basic Communication

and counselling skills, Life skill
 Capacity building of ORWs, Trainer Cum
education, Basic understating on
2.10 Supervisors, PEs, Medical officers etc. of
substance use disorders and
ODIC/ CPLI projects
management, Behavioural Change
Communication etc.
3. Treatment and Rehabilitation
Availability of Integrated
Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts  Easily accessible and affordable services
3.1 (IRCAs) and DDACs supported by of treatment, rehabilitation and
MSJE as per prevalence of counselling for substance use
substance dependence

Establishing and assisting de-

addiction centres in District  Fill gaps in treatment services and to
3.2
Government and Private enhance availability of services
Hospitals/Medical Colleges

Establishing and assisting de-

 Focused attention towards women and
addiction centres for women and
3.3 children so as to respond best to their
children in Hospitals and other
needs.
establishments

 Such centres will create a benchmark in

Model treatment and rehabilitation
drug demand reduction services and
3.4 centres in highly affected areas for
eventually share expertise with the
stabilized/residential facilities
existing service providers.

14
  De-addiction facilities for prisoners and
Establishing and assisting de- juveniles
 Reducing transmission of infectious
addiction centres in prisons, Juvenile
3.5 Homes, slum areas, factories, major diseases in prisons
 Curtail instances of substance use at
railway stations and other highly
affected areas workplaces and increased productivity of
employees

4. Setting up quality standards

 Uniformity in treatment protocol across
the country

 Integrating scientifically established

mechanisms for diagnosis of substance
use disorders
Developing module for re-treatment,  Integrating pharmacological (such as
4.1 ongoing treatment detoxification and opioid agonist and
post treatment of dependents of antagonist maintenance) and
different categories and age groups psychosocial (such as counselling,
cognitive behavioural therapy and social
support) interventions based on scientific
evidence and focused on the process of
rehabilitation, recovery and social
reintegration

Updating existing Minimum

Standards of Services for treatment  Standardization and quality control in
4.2
and rehabilitation of addicts as per services being delivered
present scenario

Accreditation of IRCAs/ DDACs/  Standardization of treatment facilities

4.3 ATFs supported by this Ministry and across the country following certain
others minimum standards
 Laying down standards and guidelines for
private de-addiction centres to follow and
Persuading States to regulate recognize such centres found to be
Private De-addiction Centres by meeting the standards and guidelines.
4.4
framing appropriate rules under the  Emphasizing human rights and dignity in
NDPS Act, 1985. the context of drug demand reduction
efforts

15
5. Focused intervention in vulnerable areas
Identification of vulnerable areas
based on study/survey and
 Focused intervention in these areas for
5.1 Feedback from the DDACs/
drug demand reduction
IRCAs/ODICs/ CPLIs and other
stakeholders
 Active participation from civil society and
Working with NGOs, NYKS, NSS youth organization to address substance
etc. in the identified vulnerable areas abuse effectively
for drawing a comprehensive  Intensifying preventive education and
5.2
strategy for demand reduction and sensitization programmes
de- addiction at all levels to achieve  Increase in availability and quality of
results in a time bound manner treatment services and rehabilitation

6. Skill Development, Vocational Training and Livelihood

Skill development, vocational

training and livelihood support of ex-
drug addicts through NISD
6.1
& Development Corporations under
 Promoting meaningful livelihood activities
the scheme of PM-DAKSH of the
and employment to instil a sense of
Ministry.
purpose and self-esteem in individuals to
steer them away from drugs and become
Linkage of IRCAs with Pradhan active members of the society
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana  Reduction in social stigma and economic
Training Centres of the Ministry of rehabilitation
6.2 Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship for providing
industry relevant training to ex- drug
addicts.

Vocational training and livelihood

programmes in Juvenile Homes  Steering the youth and children from
6.3 delinquency and substance abuse and
involvement in better activities

16
 7. Extent, trend and pattern of substance use

Conducting National Survey on

 To assess the extent, trend and pattern of
7.1 Extent and Pattern of Substance Use
substance use
in every five years

 Will help in developing measures based on

Continuous research, studies and scientific evidence that are relevant to
7.2 innovation on substance use pattern different socio-cultural environments and
and relevant areas social groups

8. Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation

 For effective implementation of National

Coordination with all collaborating
8.1 Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction
agencies and regular monitoring
(NAPDDR)

Evaluation of NAPDDR through  Ascertaining the outcome envisaged in the

8.2
third party NAPDDR

Expectation from the State:-

1. To submit State Annual Action Plan under NAPDDR for Financial

Assistance
2. Conduct state-wide programs under Drug Demand Reduction to raise
awareness against substance abuse & reduce stigmatization of and
discrimination against groups and individuals dependent on substances
in order to integrate them back into the society
3. Focus on preventive education, awareness generation, identification,
counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with substance
dependence, training and capacity building of the service providers
4. To ensure that the grant-in-aid institutions function effectively. Timely
monitoring of counselling and treatment facilities in the district by
State/District administration
5. Ensuring strict implementation of ban on sale of cigarettes within 100
yards of any educational institution for Enforcement of Cigarette and
Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003
6. States/ Districts preferably must provide suitable accommodation free of
rent for the purpose of setting up of District De-addiction Centre
7. The State may recommend eligible NGOs for running projects, as per
suitability and as per the standard norms fixed by the Ministry
17
 1.2 Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) has launched Nasha
Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 identified vulnerable districts with an
aim to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the
youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses,
schools and reaching out into the community and garnering community
involvement and ownership of the Abhiyaan. The 272 districts which are
identified as most vulnerable in terms of usage of drugs. These 272 districts
have been identified based on the inputs received from the Narcotics Control
Bureau and the findings of the comprehensive National survey done by the
Ministry.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is a three-pronged attack combining the supply

curb by Narcotics Control Bureau, Outreach and Awareness and Demand
Reduction effort by Social Justice and Empowerment and treatment through
Health Department. The Abhiyaan has the following objectives:

1. Awareness generation programmes

2. Focus on higher educational Institution, university campuses and
schools
3. Reaching out into the Community and identifying dependent
population,
4. Focus on counselling and treatment facilities in hospitals and
rehabilitation centres
5. Capacity building programmes for a service providers

Launched on 15th August 2020 the Abhiyaan completed its first year in 2021.
A wide range of activities have been conducted throughout the country that
have fostered participation from all quarters of society and stakeholders.

Achievements of the Abhiyaan till now:-

1. Till now through the various activities undertaken on-ground almost 1
Crore people have been reached out so far
2. 13,000 Master Volunteers have been selected and trained to lead the
Abhiyaan activities in the 272 identified districts
3. More than 35 lakh youth have actively participated in the activities of the
Abhiyaan and spreading on-ground the message against substance use.
Around 4,000+ Yuva Mandals, NYKS & NSS Volunteers, Youth Clubs
have also been associated with the Abhiyaan
4. The contribution of 28+ Lakh women have also been vital in reaching out
to a larger community through the Anganwadi & ASHA Workers, ANMs,
Mahila Mandals & Women SHGs

18
 5. Across the country till now, 13+ lakh students have been reached with
events, competitions and sessions organized in 13,353 schools
6. Social media has effectively been utilized to spread the message of the
Abhiyaan online by creating handles on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
and sharing daily updates on them.
7. Keeping in mind the pandemic condition and to connect with the
stakeholders over the online space, a variety of activities are regularly
organized and conducted by the Ministry. A Nasha Mukt Bharat Summit
was recently organized to mark the International Day against Drug
Abuse. Activities such as Panel Discussions with experts, online
competitions, celebrity messages took place in the week-long summit
which saw a wide participation from the youth
8. Regular Panel Discussions with the District Collectors/Magistrates who
play an important role in the implementation of Abhiyaan are also
regularly conducted. In these discussions, viewers get to know the best
practices being done in each district for the Abhiyaan. More than 3k
viewers have connected with the Panel Discussions online.
9. An internship programme was also initiated where 180+ students worked
as Social media interns reached out to 13+ lakh people across the
country in 3.5 months using their social media handles
10. Android based mobile Application has been developed to capture
the data of activities happening on ground on a real-time basis by the
districts and master volunteers. This App has been placed on the Google
Play Store
11. A short film on the Abhiyaan, its objectives and the efforts of the
districts has been made
12. To celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence and the Azadi ka
Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry plans to declare 100 districts as 'Drug
Sensitized Districts' by August 2022.

Expectations from the State:

1. Formation of State Level Nasha Mukt Bharat Committee chaired by the

Principal Secretary which will provide guidance, support to the districts
for the implementation of the Abhiyaan
2. To increase community participation and public cooperation in the state
in the Abhiyaan.
3. Conducting training programmes for the service providers at State level,
district level, and below district level
4. Having a social media strategy for the State campaign and
implementation of the same.
5. Visit to the Institutions, hospitals for assessment of preparedness and
implementation

19
 6. Have a social media plan to publicise the Abhiyaan in the state over the
online space

Expectations from the District:

1. Ensuring formulation of the District Nasha Mukt Committee and

conducting awareness generation programmes throughout the district
2. Identification of victims and users and taking them to Rehabilitation
Centres/Hospitals for counselling and treatment.
3. Monitoring of counselling and treatment facilities in the district
4. Ensuring strict implementation of ban on sale of cigarettes within 100
yards of any educational institution for Enforcement of Cigarette and
Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003
5. Identifying Master Volunteers from the district, training them about the
objectives spreading awareness in the Community
6. Obtaining information on the availability/sale of drugs and review the
action taken on such information.
7. Conducting training programmes for the service providers at district level
and below district level
8. Having a social media strategy for the District campaign and
implementation of the same.
9. Feed in the data of the activities being organized in the district for the
Abhiyaan in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Mobile Application
10. Feedback on the progress to the State Level Campaign Committee
and to the Ministry.

20
1.3 Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and
Enterprise (SMILE)
Sub-Scheme 1 - Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Transgender Persons

Sub-Scheme 2 - Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the

Act of Begging

Outcome of SMILE (Sub-Scheme 1) are as follows:-

1. Provide Pre-matric and Post-matric scholarships to transgender persons,

to support students in continuing their education and to retain them in
schools.
2. Skill development programmes to improve employment opportunities for
transgender persons.
3. Provide medical intervention and support to transgender persons so that
they can avail health benefits in the form of insurance for SRS, hormone
therapy etc.
4. Providing temporary housing facilities to Transgender Persons in 12
cities across the nation for destitute and BPL Transpeople.
5. Formation of Self Help Groups of Transgender Persons
6. Provision of Interest subvention for Transgender Persons to avail loans
and other benefits
7. Establishing E-Services such as National Portal & Helpline and
Advertisement for awareness, sensitization of problems faced by
Transgender Persons.
8. Provision of Transgender Protection Cell in districts for legal protection.

Outcome of SMILE (Sub-Scheme 2) are as follows:-

1. Make places begging-free and create a strategy for comprehensive

rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of Begging through
coordinated action of various stakeholders such as Central and State
Governments/UT, local bodies, NGOs, social activists and public at large.
2. Survey and identification of the persons engaged in the act of Begging in
identified places.
3. Mobilization of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
4. Provision of a whole range of basic services for the persons engaged in
begging such as shelter, rehabilitation, hygiene, food, clothing, bedding,
medical facilities, counselling and education.
5. Facilitate skill development training to the persons engaged in the act of
Begging so as to ensure their reintegration in the mainstream society to
lead a life with dignity and self-confidence.
6. Sustainable settlement of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
21
Expectation from the State (Sub-Scheme 1) -

1. There are 12 Garima Grehs running in 12 cities across the countries. The
district administrations of these cities are expected to handhold these
shelter homes in implementation procedure and provide sufficient
support to run the project smoothly as well as build their capacity. So as
to provide skill development, employment opportunities to Transgender
persons who come out of such homes.
2. The states shall be expected to generate maximum awareness about the
Transgender Portal for issuance of Transgender certificate and Identity,
so that interested Transgender persons can get their cards issued,
through the district administration online, without any physical
interference.
3. The states shall assist in the proper implementation of the scheme, so
that the benefits of the sub-components reaches maximum beneficiaries
in terms of health benefits, scholarships and setting up of Transgender
protection cell.
4. The state shall conduct survey’s to identify the total number of
Transgender persons residing in their areas to create a state specific
comprehensive plan for their overall development.
5. The state shall incorporate Transgender persons in their already
existing/newly formulated schemes for inclusivity as well to provide them
maximum coverage in terms of benefits.
6. Identify issues/problems being faced by the Transgender Persons
specific to a state.

Expectation from the State (Sub-Scheme 2) –

a) Complete pilots for Beggary projects in the major cities and share regular
updates and reports to the Ministry
b) State shall provide whole range of services including identification,
awareness generation, rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities,
counselling, education, skill development and sustainable settlement of
persons engaged in the act of Begging
c) The state shall provide all the benefits to the persons engaged in the act
of Begging for which they are eligible and convergence with all the
schemes shall be ensured
d) State shall collect all relevant data about the persons engaged in the act
of Begging and upload it on the central online portal.

22
Scheduled Caste Division
Name of the Scheme/Project

2.1 Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High

Schools in Targeted Areas (SRESHTA)
Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted
Areas (SHRESHTA) (earlier known as grant-in-aid to voluntary and other
organisations working for
Scheduled castes)

Outcomes of the scheme:

1. Enhance the reach of development Intervention of the Government and

fill the gap in service deficient SCs dominant areas
2. Provide environment for socio economics upliftment and overall
development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs)

Modes under the scheme

(SHRESHTA) to be operated under two Modes to enhance the academic

performances for SC students as under:

Mode 1:

Each year 2200 meritorious SC students in States/UTs will be selected for

quality residential education in top-class residential High Schools available in or
nearby to the District. The admissions would be in Class 9 and Class11 and
would be automatically renewed up to class 12. Thereafter it will be connected
to the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme or Top Class Education Scheme. The
students and the schools will be selected and recommended by the District
Administration. Preference may be given to the Aspirational Districts identified
by the NITI Aayog and Educationally Backward Districts and the Districts having
SC population larger than National Average of 16.2% (as per Census 2011).

Mode 2:

Schools/Hostels run by voluntary and other organizations who are already

getting Grant-in-aid will be continued, subject to the condition that they are
having adequate infrastructure, recognition of State Government / State School
23
Boards (in case of Schools) and maintaining the infrastructural and educational
standards as laid down by this Ministry from time to time. Further, New High
Schools (Secondary and Higher Secondary Level) will also be supported after
due approval of the Screening Committee.

Expectation from the state:

Mode 1: The District Administration will be the prime implementing agency for
Mode 1. They will be in constant touch with the Ministry, (The committee headed
by the DM/DCs would nominate students to these top schools)
District Administration will upload three lists on E-anudaan portal as below:
a. List of all schools in districts along with selected school
b. A detailed list of all eligible students (having Aadhar Number) who have
applied/appeared in the entrance examination will be uploaded on the
portal by District Administration.
c. A separate list of finally selected students (within the allocated seats by
GoI) in order of merit to be uploaded on e-Anudaan Portal for calculation
of grants.

Mode 2:

Applications from NGOs/VOs in the prescribed proforma shall be

submitted/forwarded/recommended by the State Government / Administration
of the Union Territory on the e-Anudaan portal of this Ministry

24
2.2 Scheme of Pre Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Caste
Students studying in classes 9th &10th
Objective:

1. To support parents of SC children for education of their wards studying

in classes IX and X so that the incidence of drop-out, especially in the
transition from the elementary to the secondary stage is minimized
2. To improve participation of SC children in classes IX and X of the pre-
matric stage, so that they perform better and have a better chance of
progressing to the post-matric stage of education.

Scope

Scholarship under the Scheme will be available for studies in India only and will
be awarded by the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the
applicant belongs i.e. where he is domiciled.

Expectation from the state:

1. The Scheme will be implemented through State Governments/U.T.

Administrations. All the State Governments/UT Administrations will, at
the appropriate time, suitably publicise the Scheme and invite
applications by issuing an advertisement in local language, in the leading
newspapers of the State and through their respective websites and other
media outfits. The applicant should submit the completed application to
the prescribed authority, as mentioned below before the last date
prescribed for receipt of applications.
2. State Govt. would prescribe a suitable application form in the local
language and place it on its websites. School authorities will get these
forms filled by the eligible students and send them to Block / District level
authorities. State Governments/UT Administrations will delegate powers
to sanction scholarships under the scheme to appropriate Block/ District
level authorities/ Heads of Institution, as appropriate.
3. State Governments/UT administrations should ensure payment of
scholarship through their accounts in post offices/banks. All State
Govts/UT Administrations will implement a computerized management
system of scholarships, 9 including an ‘e-payment’ system.
4. State Governments/UT Administrations will be expected to submit their
complete proposals for CA under the Scheme. The aggregated demand
of the State/ UT to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment should
be submitted in the prescribed format
5. State Governments/ UT Administrations will be expected to ensure timely
and regular disbursal of scholarships to students through Bank /Post
25
 office accounts, preferably on a monthly basis. Pending release of CA,
the scholarships would be expected to be paid out of the State Budget,
against which reimbursement can be claimed. In no case the disbursal of
the scholarship to students should be held up due to any delay in the
release of CA.
6. State Governments and Union Territory Administrations implementing
the scheme will:
a) Furnish data of beneficiaries and expenditure under the scheme,
to Government of India, regularly in the Quarterly Progress Reports
whose proforma would be separately prescribed. Financial
assistance given under the scheme shall not be utilized for any
other purpose
b) Make beneficiaries database which may be integrated with UIDAI
by (a) embedding Aadhaar numbers (UID numbers) in it, (b) using
the UIDAI enabled bank account (UEBA) for crediting the
scholarships and (c) using the UIDAI authentication services for
beneficiary identification.
c) Ensure that an institution-wise list of awardees, with necessary
particulars, for award of scholarships is displayed on the web-site
of NIC at District level.
d) Designate Grievance Redressal Officers (GROs) at the State and
District levels to redress students' scholarship-related grievances.
7. For the purposes of effective implementation of the Scheme, States/UTs
may formulate guidelines for assessing eligibility of beneficiaries &
institutions and modalities for Direct benefit transfer, which shall be in
accordance with the objectives of the Scheme provided that the States
shall not be at liberty to impose any guideline which enhances or has the
effect of enhancing the liability of the Centre under the Scheme.

26
2.3 Scheme of Post Matric Scholarships to the Students
belonging to Scheduled Castes for Studies in India (PMS-
SC)

Objective

The objective of the scheme is to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment

Ratio of SC students in higher education with a focus on those from the poorest
households, by providing financial assistance at post-matriculation or post-
secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

Scope

1. These scholarships are available for studies in India only and the
awardees are selected by the State Government/Union Territory to which
the applicant actually belongs (i.e. the State/UT in which permanently
settled or domiciled, as per the terms of domicile decided by the State).
2. This is applicable to all the students who are currently beneficiaries of the
scheme as well as fresh admissions.

Expectation from the state:

1. Although many SC students have availed benefits under this scheme and
have occupied high positions in the society, still the Gross Enrolment
Ratio (GER) of SCs in higher education (23.0%) lags behind the national
average (27.0%). It is the endeavour of the Government to raise the GER
of SCs in higher education from 23.0 % to the national average in the
next five years. Similarly, the GER in Senior Secondary education of SCs
has to increase from the current 56% to the national average in the next
five years. Towards this end, special focus of the implementing agencies
is required to achieve the goal.
2. All the SC students with annual income of up to Rs 2.50 lakh per annum
would be eligible under the scheme. However, the State Government will
additionally make special efforts to identify the poorest households from
various sources and enrol the eligible students under the scheme in a
mission mode. Further, these students would be monitored on a regular
basis so that they continue with their studies. Such students shall include
(i) students from SC households with three or more deprivations as per
SECC-2011 (ii) students from SC households where one or both the
parents are illiterate and (iii) the students who have passed 10th standard
from a State Government/ Municipality/Local Body school. In this regard,
States/UTs will launch special campaigns to identify and cover such
students.
27
3. States/UTs may adopt methodology suitable to the local conditions for
identification of such students e.g. SC majority districts/blocks/villages
may be taken first for identification of poorest students or students leaving
class 10thor 12th class may be tracked in association with the education
department or data emanating from other Central/State schemes
indicating the dropouts rates or other sources as deemed fit. Every State
Government shall undertake a campaign every year in March/April to
identify such students and mentor them to enrol and avail scholarships.
Such students will be helped for identification of courses also as per their
skills.
4. Awareness drive shall be undertaken by the State Governments/UTs
about the scheme through the Gram Panchayats Notice Boards, school
committees, and discussions in the parent-teacher association meetings
and other public awareness measures, in order to extend its coverage
and also minimize any misuse by unscrupulous elements.
5. The States are required to take up identification of the students for fresh
enrolment by taking up systematic drives covering all the higher
secondary schools and encouraging the pupils who have dropped out
after Class 12th to come back to higher education.
6. It is essential that the fresh enrolments to the extent possible are made
in the courses which are having employment potential. For this purpose,
the State may do an exercise in consultation with the Higher Education
Department of the State Government, and the State Skill Mission for
identifying courses which would improve the employment potential of the
students. It is strongly advised that fresh enrolment may be made in these
courses. Such skill courses should be long term courses with periodicity
of at least 1 year and conducted by the institutions as per Para 4 of the
scheme guidelines.
7. The State Government will ensure that the beneficiary, at the time of
admission, applies for the scholarship also. In this regard, the State
Government may open facilitation centres or nominate a nodal officer in
the educational institutions so that the entry into the student database for
renewals and fresh admissions can be done in a stipulated time frame.
8. The State Governments shall put in place a scholarship portal that has
all features as prescribed in para 13 of these guidelines and share the
data on a real-time basis with the Central portal.
9. The State/Central Government shall have robust monitoring systems,
including field inspections, social audits, data analytics etc. so that timely
payments are made to eligible beneficiaries.
10. States/UTs shall ensure that Fee Rationalization/Fixation
Committees are set up for all courses.

28
2.4 State Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan
(SCA-SCSP)
The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach for the socio-
economic development of the Scheduled Castes: social empowerment through
educational development; economic empowerment through income and
employment enhancing avenues and integrated development of SC majority
villages; protection through effective implementation of protective legislations
and eradication of occupations such as manual scavenging; and holistic
development through earmarking of funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes.

Objectives of the Scheme

1. 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.
2. To reduce the poverty among the target population and bring them above
the poverty lines.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The Scheduled Castes persons living below the poverty lines are eligible
for getting benefits under the various Income Generating Schemes and
Skill Development Programmes.
2. In case of Infrastructure Development, the villages having 50% or more
SC population are eligible for grants under the Scheme.
3. As regards definition of poverty line and selection of SC families living
below poverty line is concerned, the guidelines issued by the erstwhile
Planning Commission and the procedure laid down by the Ministry of
Rural Development for selecting the beneficiaries through the Panchayati
Raj institutions may be adopted.

Components of the Scheme

1. Broadly, under the Scheme, funds can be utilized by the State

Government/UTs Administration for the following activities:
a) Income Generating Schemes
b) Skill Development Programmes
c) Infrastructure Development
d) Monitoring and Evaluation

29
Income Generating Schemes

1. SC families living below the poverty line are to be assisted for taking up
viable income generating activities, through a mix of institutional finance
and subsidy. The maximum amount of subsidy against project costs
admissible under the Scheme is Rs. 10,000/- per beneficiary (50% of the
project cost or maximum of Rs. 10,000/- per beneficiary whichever is
lesser).
2. The utilization of SCA provides flexibility to the State Governments/Union
Territory Administrations in selection of income generating schemes.
Accordingly, as per the local requirements, schemes for the economic
development of Scheduled Castes can be identified and implemented.
3. An illustrative list of items under various development sectors that can be
covered under Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan
for Income Generating Schemes, Skill Development Programmes and
Infrastructure Development is enclosed at Annexure-I.

Skill Development Programmes

1. At least 10% of the SCA released in a year has to be utilized for skill
development programmes undertaken in accordance with Guidelines for
Skill Development contained in Annexure II of this Scheme Guidelines.
2. The Skill Development training programmes to be implemented with the
support of SCA to SCSP should be formulated in such a way that after
completion of the training, the placement of trained candidates either in
wage employment or in self-employment is at least 70%.

Infrastructure Development

1. Up to 30 % of the SCA released in a year can be utilized for infrastructural

development programmes in the villages having more than 50 % of
Scheduled Caste population selected under
2. Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) of the Department, and
other infrastructure projects.
3. SCA’s funds cannot be utilized for infrastructure development other than
in the selected villages of PMAGY, without the approval of the Project
Appraisal Committee.
4. For infrastructure development priority should be given to atrocity prone
areas and aspirational districts.

30
Monitoring & Evaluation

1. Up to 3 % of the total SCA released to the States/UTs can be utilized by

the States/UTs for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of economic
development schemes implemented with the support of SCA funds.
2. In order to assist the State Scheduled Caste Corporation for various
Administrative expenses, the States/UTs may incur up to 1% of the total
SCA released to the States/UTs as part of the permissible expenditure
for supervision, monitoring and evaluation.
3. Special Provisions for SC Women and Disabled:
4. Up to 15 % of the total SCA released to the States/UTs will be utilized by
the State Governments/UTs Administrations exclusively on viable income
generating economic development schemes/ programmes for SC
women.
5. In order to give necessary impetus for economic development of women,
participation of at least 30% women candidates may be ensured in the
skill development programmes.
6. 5 % of the total SCA released to the States/UTs will be utilized by the
State Governments/UTs Administrations exclusively on viable income
generating economic development schemes/programmes for disabled
persons.
7. States/UTs may also promote Scheduled Caste Women Cooperatives
engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.

Special Provisions for North Eastern States

2% of the total budget allocation for the scheme will be earmarked for those
North Eastern States which implement Scheduled Caste Sub Plan for SCs.

Allocation Criteria

1. Funds under the Scheme of SCA to SCSP are distributed to the State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations on the basis of the
following criteria:
2. On the basis of Scheduled Caste population of the States/UTs (40%)
3. On the basis of relative backwardness of the States/UTs (inverse of State
Per Capita Domestic Product) (10%)
4. On the basis of the percentage of SC families in the States/UTs covered
by Composite Economic Development Programmes in the Plans to
enable them to cross the Poverty line (25%)
5. On the basis of the Special Component Plan to the Annual Plan as
compared to the SC population percentage in the States/UTs (25%)

31
Release of Funds to the States/UTs

1. The Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment will

intimate the tentative allocation of SCA to State Governments/UT
Administrations at the beginning of the financial year and will release the
first instalment of SCA on the basis of SC Population and relative
backwardness of the States/UTs during the first quarter of the financial
year. While releasing the first instalment, the Utilization Certificate of the
grants released for the previous to last year Financial Year would be
necessary.
2. The second instalment to the State Government/UTs Administration
would be released subject to the following conditions:
3. The State Government/UT Administration should furnish the information
on effort based criteria i.e percentage of families covered by Composite
Economic Development Programmes & Special Component Plan to the
Annual Plan as compared to the SC population latest by the month of
August every year.
4. Utilization of at least 50% of the SCA released to them in the previous
financial year should be submitted by the State Governments/UTs
Administrations.
5. The State Governments/UTs Administrations should have submitted their
Annual Action Plan (AAP) including details of Allocation and Utilization of
AWSC/SCSP funds.
6. The Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) set up under the scheme should
have appraised and approved the activities based on the Annual Action
Plan and reviewed the implementation of AWSC/SCSP.

Annual Action Plan

1. It would be mandatory for the State Governments/UTs Administrations to

submit the Annual Action Plan in order to get the grants under the
scheme.
2. The Annual Action Plan should be submitted by the end of May of every
year so that the appraisal process is completed by end of June and the
second instalment is released thereafter.
3. State Governments/UTs Administration may prepare the AAP as per the
local requirements indicating the various income generating schemes,
skill development programmes, infrastructure development requirements
in convergence with State SCSP etc. The format for submitting the
Annual Action Plan is enclosed at Format-I (A to F).
4. Constitution and Functions of Project Appraisal Committee (PAC)

32
Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Proper and timely utilization of SCA funds on viable schemes for the
economic development of SC families below poverty line needs greater
attention. The State Governments/UT Administrations will ensure
identification of viable schemes with adequate funding for the target
population.
2. To assist the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations
implementing the scheme, the Ministry, in association with National
Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation (NSFDC) and
National E-Governance Division (NeGD), has got developed an online
portal for end- to-end processing of various income generating
schemes/educational schemes implemented for the welfare of Scheduled
Castes, Backward Class and Safai Karamcharis.
3. The State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations will mandatorily
process all the Income Generating proposals funded under the scheme
either through the portal developed by the Ministry or a portal developed
by the State Government/ Union Territory Administration. This would
ensure that beneficiaries can apply for the Credit based schemes with
greater transparency and will also ensure time-bound processing of their
applications and grounding of the scheme.
4. The State Governments/UT Administrations should strengthen their
monitoring mechanism at State and District levels. There should be
regular feedback through monthly progress reports on implementation
and utilization of funds from the implementing agencies to the District and
from District to the State on a monthly basis. The Secretary of the
Department concerned with SC welfare and development should send
the monthly physical and financial progress report on utilization of SCA
within 15 days after the end of each month and the annual progress report
on the utilization of funds within 3 months of the end of each financial
year to the Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment. The financial and physical formats designed for Monthly
and Annual Reports are enclosed at Format-II (A-D) and III (A to C)
respectively.
5. Separate account of SCA released to the implementing agencies may be
maintained and utilization of SCA funds by the implementing agencies
may be examined regularly through periodical progress reports from the
implementing agencies. Annual Audit of SCA accounts of State and
District may be ensured.

33
2.5 Babu Jagjiwan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
BACKGROUND
This scheme for construction of hostels is one of the means to enable and
encourage students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) to attain quality
education. Such hostels are immensely beneficial to the students hailing from
rural and remote areas of the country. While the scheme of construction of
hostels for SC girls is in operation from the Third Five Year Plan (1961-66), the
same for boys was started with effect from the year 1989-90.
OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
The primary objective of the revised scheme is to attract implementing agencies
for undertaking construction of hostels, especially for SC girls, towards the
broader vision of containment and reduction of their dropout rate.
The other objectives are:
1. Having a girls/ boys hostel with a capacity of 100 seats, in every block
headquarters of low literacy districts not having one as of now, by way of
priority,
2. Repairing and proper maintenance of hostels, and
3. Having an effective mechanism for monitoring, review, etc.

IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES AND THEIR ELIGIBILITY

The scheme is implemented through the State Governments, Union Territory
Administrations and the Central & State Universities/ Institutions. These
implementing agencies are provided eligible central assistance as per
provisions of the scheme, for fresh construction of hostel buildings, for
expansion of the existing hostel facilities and for periodic repair and
maintenance of the hostels constructed under this Scheme.
The proposal for construction/ expansion/ repair & maintenance of hostels by
State Universities/ Institutions shall be submitted to the respective State
Government/ UT Administration who, in turn, would forward the same along with
their recommendations to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Government of India for release of grants-in-aid as per provisions of the
Scheme.
Likewise, the proposal of Central Universities/ Institutions shall be submitted to
the Ministry through their Administrative Ministries/Departments along with their
recommendations for release of grants-in-aid under the Scheme.

34
Location and Scope of Hostels
While sanctioning hostels, priority may be given to areas having concentration
of SC population of 15% and more, and without adequate hostel facilities for SC
students. Preference will be given to integrated hostels (part of established
educational institutions) over stand-alone hostels.
State Governments, while selecting schools for construction of hostels will give
priority to top performing Government schools not having any hostel at present.
The girl’s hostels will be constructed in close vicinity of the educational
institution.
Focus will be given on construction of hostels for middle and higher secondary
levels of education. However, hostels can also be constructed under the
scheme for college and university levels of education.
The construction of boundary walls, two rooms set quarter for hostel wardens
and one room set for Chowkidars/ Lady Guards would be an integral part of the
scheme.
Responsibility of the Central Government
The Central Government will provide eligible central assistance to implementing
agencies as per provisions of the scheme, both for fresh construction of hostel
buildings and for expansion of the existing hostel facilities.
The Government will also provide admissible grants to the eligible implementing
agencies for repair and maintenance of operational hostels sanctioned under
the scheme, once in five years after operationalization thereof.
Responsibility of the State Governments/ other Implementing Agencies
The implementing agencies will provide suitable land for
construction/expansion of hostels under the scheme free of cost. While seeking
central assistance, these agencies will be required to submit all the prescribed
documents to the Ministry along with the proposals preferably by 15th Mayas
per the Annexures –I & II. The State Governments will be responsible for
operationalization of the hostels constructed under the scheme and monitoring
of their activities.
In case of girls' hostels, the State Governments and implementing agencies
concerned will have to ensure availability of lady wardens and lady guards.
Facilities like in-house coaching, medical care, periodic health camps, IT
education, sports coaching, etc. to the students may also be provided in
convergence with schemes of concerned Ministries/Departments of the
Centre/State.
35
Any expenditure on construction and repair & maintenance of hostels over and
above the admissible central assistance will be borne by the implementing
agencies concerned from their own budget. As regards maintenance of the
students, the expenditure may be met in convergence with schemes of
concerned Ministries/Departments of the Centre/States, e.g. Pre-matric
Scholarship Scheme, Post-matric Scholarship Scheme, etc.
The capacity per hostel should not normally exceed 100 students. In
exceptional cases, hostels with larger capacities (maximum upto 250 students)
can be considered. Each hostel room should accommodate at least 2-3
students. No single room accommodation would be provided in the hostels
constructed under the scheme.
COST NORMS
For Construction:
(a) The cost norms for construction/expansion of girls and boys hostels will be
as under:
(i) North Eastern Region : Rs.3.50 lakh per beneficiary
(ii) Northern Himalayan Regions: Rs.3.25 lakh per beneficiary
(iii) Gangetic Plains &Lower : Rs.3.00 lakh per beneficiary
Himalayan Region
(b) In addition to the admissible central assistance under the Scheme, a one-
time grant of Rs.5000/- per student would also be provided for making
provisions of a cot, a table and a chair for each student and for common facilities
like Television, Computer, Kitchen equipment, etc. This one-time grant shall be
released after utilization of central assistance provided by the Government
along with a matching share of the implementing agency, if any, for
construction, and completion of construction of the hostel in all respects.
Infrastructure Maintenance:
Central assistance for repair and maintenance of the operational hostels will be
provided to implementing agencies, once in every five years after
operationalization of the hostel. It will be limited to a maximum of Rs.5.00 lakh
for one hostel of 50 inmates, Rs.10.00 lakh for 100 inmates, Rs.15.00lakh for
150 inmates and so on. Central assistance for repair and maintenance shall be
provided for the SC hostels constructed under BJRCY by the State/ UT
Governments and Central & State Universities/ Institutions.

36
Funding Pattern
For Girls Hostels:
100% central assistance would be provided to the State Governments/ UT
Administrations and Central & State Universities/ Institutions, as per the cost
norms prescribed in para-8 here-in-above.
For Boys Hostels:
50% central assistance would be provided to State Governments on matching
share basis.
100% central assistance to UT Administrations.
90% central assistance to Central Universities/Institutions. The remaining 10%
cost is to be borne by the Central University/ Institution concerned.
Remaining 55% cost is to be borne by the State University/Institution and the
State Government/UT Administration concerned in the ratio of 10:45.
Note: In case the State Governments/ UT Administrations concerned do not
contribute their expected share of 45% to the State Universities/ Institutions as
prescribed above, the share of the former will also have to be borne by the
Universities/ Institutions, by raising their contribution to 55%.
Monitoring and Evaluation
A Steering Committee consisting of following officers will monitor and review
the progress of construction/ completion of hostels regularly based on the
progress reports:
a) Joint Secretary (SCD-B), SJ&E – Chairperson
b) Representative of State Government/ Implementing Agency –Member
c) Representative of Ministry of HRD – Member
d) Director/ Deputy Secretary (SCD-B), SJ&E - Member
e) Under Secretary (BJRCY), SJ&E - Convenor

Periodical review meetings with the representatives of State Governments and

other Implementing Agencies would be conducted to monitor the progress of
construction. The functioning and occupancy status of hostels will also be
monitored post-construction. Implementing Agencies shall be required to
submit annual occupancy status as per Annexure –V. While submitting new
proposals, the State Governments/UT Administrations will furnish physical &
financial progress reports of the hostels sanctioned earlier, mandatorily as per
Annexure I.
37
For the purpose of effective monitoring, the Ministry/Steering Committee may
itself conduct or cause field visits by appropriate agencies/authorities to inspect
the projects. The Committee may invite experts as special invitees, as and when
it deems necessary. An independent third-party outcome evaluation will be
done periodically.
Implementation Pattern
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment can suitably modify the
implementation modalities, without changing the basic framework of the
Scheme, as and when required, with the approval of the Hon’ble Minister, Social
Justice & Empowerment.
Manner of Release of Central Assistance
Construction/ expansion of hostel building:
The central assistance will be released by the Ministry in two equal instalments
for each hostel. The first instalment, i.e. 50% of the sanctioned amount will be
released to the implementing agencies at the time of sanctioning the project.
The second and final instalment will be released upon receipt of physical and
financial progress reports along with photographs of the site as per Annexure-
I, after: (i) completion of construction work at least upto roof level, and (ii) full
utilization of the amount of first instalment of grants-in-aid released by the
Ministry of SJ&E together with the matching share, as applicable, by the
implementing agencies concerned.
The admissible grants-in-aid to the implementing agencies would be released
to them directly. In case of expansion of a girls' hostel, the implementing agency
may confirm availability of lady wardens & guards while submitting the proposal.
One- time Grant for cot, table, etc. will be released as indicated in para 8.1(b)
here- in-above on production of completion certificate of hostels.
Repair and Maintenance:
The central assistance for repair and maintenance of hostels would be released
on demand and receipt of proposal as per Annexure-IV. While the State
Governments and UT Administrations may submit the request to the Ministry
directly, the Central &State Universities/Institutions are required to submit their
proposals as per procedure prescribed in paras-3.2 & 3.3 here-in-above.
Such proposals should necessarily be accompanied by the detailed cost
estimate vetted by PWD/ CPWD/ Central or State Government construction
agencies, as the case may be and should be as per SOR of the State
38
Government. Detailed list of students staying in the hostel should also
accompany the proposal.
At the time of submission of the proposal, the hostel must be operational and
have minimum occupancy of 50% total inmates sanctioned with at least 70% of
these being SC students.
The hostels for girls must have lady wardens and lady guards in place. The
implementing agencies may undertake to ensure their availability while
submitting proposals for repair and maintenance of these hostels.
General Provisions
Separate applications should be submitted for SC Girls and Boys hostels in the
prescribed formats (Annexures- I to II). Wherever applicable, the application
shall be supported by physical and financial progress reports of the hostels
sanctioned earlier under the scheme. Request for release of repair and
maintenance cost may be sent by the implementing agencies in the proforma
prescribed for the same (Annexure-IV).
In case of a proposal for construction/ expansion, the implementing agencies
may furnish proof/ documents of ownership & occupancy of land mandatorily
where the hostel is to be constructed/ expanded and to confirm that the same
is in their actual possession.
If after release of grant, there is a need for change of location where the new
hostel is to be constructed, due to any dispute etc., the implementing agency
may submit a request along with the land documents of the proposed new
location. Amount of central assistance already released should not be utilized
by the implementing agencies until approval of the Ministry of SJ&E is obtained
for the change of location.
Standard design with costing norms should be developed as a benchmark for
approving the hostel projects by each State/UT for central assistance under the
scheme.
A few rooms/blocks of the hostels should be constructed barrier free and
facilities like ramps etc. be incorporated in the design of construction for
convenience of the students with disabilities.
It shall be mandatory for the educational institutions concerned to provide 70%
reservation to SC students in the hostels created under the scheme. The
intention of the present scheme is not to segment the students on caste lines,
but to have an integrated and inclusive student community system, with a
positive leaning towards the Scheduled Castes.
39
Priority in allotment of hostel accommodation should be given to SC students
whose parents are either 'SafaiKaramcharis' or engaged in unclean
occupations.
No fee or charges of any kind will be collected from the SC students for making
provision of the hostel facilities.
A proposal for hostel construction/expansion, attached with existing educational
institution viz. school, college, university etc., shall necessarily be accompanied
by a detailed list of students belonging to the target group in the existing role of
feeder institutions and a copy of the stated policy & commitment of the institution
regarding its action plan for implementation of the reservation norms. These
details will be subject to scrutiny by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment. In case of proposal for a stand-alone hostel, list of feeder
institutions or number SC students available in the existing roll of these
institutes or list of SC students in the existing roll of these institutions may be
provided.
The implementing agencies shall closely supervise the hostel construction work
regularly and submit quarterly progress reports, both physical and financial, to
the Ministry of Social Justice &Empowerment till the completion thereof. For this
purpose, the State Governments may provide training to the officers involved in
supervising the hostels.
The hostels shall be completed within a period of two years from the date of
sanction of the project. While submitting proposals for release of central
assistance, the implementing agencies shall give a time frame about the
completion of construction which shall be in any case, not more than the
maximum prescribed period.
Implementing agencies will give wide publicity for admission of students in the
hostels through newspapers, television, etc. They will also develop a grievance
redressal
Availability of lady Wardens and Watchmen in girls hostels constructed under
the scheme will be mandatory and the implementing agencies will ensure the
same.
Implementing agencies, through their concerned State Governments/
Administrative Ministries/ Departments, may submit reports regarding
percentage of occupancy, facilities available in the hostels (including availability
of lady wardens and watchmen in girls' hostel), outcomes like academic
performance, etc. to the Ministry periodically.

40
2.6 Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)

Objectives of the Scheme

1. The objective of this Scheme is to ensure integrated development of the
selected villages with more than 50% SC population so that, inter alia,
there is:
2. Adequate Infrastructure:
3. All requisite infrastructure necessary for the socio-economic
development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
4. Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators
5. The identified socio-economic indicators, known as Monitorable
Indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-
SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to at least
that of the National average. More specifically, all BPL SC families should
have food and livelihood security, all SC children should complete
education at least up to the secondary level, all factors leading to
maternal and infant mortality are addressed and incidence of
malnutrition, especially amongst children and women, is eliminated.
6. The particulars of the 50 monetrable Indicators under 10 domains are
listed in the next para. These 10 domains are:
a) Drinking water and Sanitation
b) Education
c) Health and Nutrition
d) Social Security
e) Rural Roads and Housing
f) Electricity and Clean Fuel
g) Agricultural Practices etc.
h) Financial Inclusion
i) Digitization
j) Livelihood and Skill Development

Monetrable Indicators

1. The primary objective of the Scheme is to improve the 50 monetrable

Indicators.
2. These monetrable Indicators will be taken into account while collecting
the baseline data, monitoring the progress and declaring the selected
villages as ‘Adarsh Gram’. Each of the monetrable Indicator is expected
to be above the benchmark in order to obtain a Score of 2. A village can
thus achieve a maximum Score of 100.

41
Approach and Strategy

1. Integrated development of selected villages will be sought to be achieved

primarily through implementation of the existing schemes of Central and
State Governments in a convergent manner thereby ensuring access to
quality services as well as infrastructure development. Gap filling funding
will be provided for meeting special requirements of the village with an
expectation of convergence of at least three to four times of ‘Gap-filling’
fund from existing Central/State Schemes or with matching grants from
State Governments.
2. Usually a certain number of SC majority Villages will be taken up for
integrated development every year depending upon various factors e.g.
willingness of State/UT Govts. to implement the Scheme, availability of
funds, status of UCs, unspent balances etc. The funds released
under ‘’Gap-filling’ component in these selected villages will be
utilized within a period of Two(02) years from the date of release.
Thus, while funds released under PMAGY are to be utilized within
Two(02) years period from the date of
release, the Monitorable Indicators, however,
will be reviewed for a total period of Five(05) years.
3. While villages selected in a particular year achieve a certain level of
development after implementation of the Scheme, they may aspire to
improve further and hence these villages can again be included under the
Scheme in coming years for receiving multiple rounds of funding for
different sets of goal provided that the VDP is successfully completed in
overall period of five years (2+3) and inspected independently by Ministry
having Inspection Report is outstanding.
4. As convergence is crucial to integrated development, Convergence
Committees will be constituted at the Village, District and State to
implement PMAGY.
5. Components of the Scheme: The Scheme will thus have two components
as under:
6. Convergence of Schemes: The twin objectives of providing adequate
infrastructure and improving socio-economic indicators will be sought to
be achieved by convergence of Schemes. The development deficit of the
selected village arising out of the baseline data vis-à-vis the Monitorable
Indicators will form the basis of convergence between the various existing
Central as well as State Government Schemes.
7. ‘Gap-filling’: The identified infrastructure developmental requirements of
the selected villages as per Format II, which cannot be met under any of
the existing schemes of the Central as well as State/UT Governments,
would be undertaken from ‘Gap-filling’ funds under this Scheme.
Activities only of non-recurring nature and used for community purpose
would be funded through the ‘Gap- filling ’component.
42
Preparation of Village Development Plan (VDP):

1. The purpose of the VDP is to prepare a comprehensive, realistic and

practical blueprint for development of the selected Village into an ‘Adarsh
Gram’ in a time-frame of about five years. The starting point for
preparation of the VDP will be to carry out Needs Assessment of the
important developmental needs for the village as a whole and for all the
families/ individuals and for whom household survey will have to be
carried out.
2. The Needs Assessment will get reflected in Format I, II, III-A and III-B.
While Format I captures the Village level Data and Format II captures the
Village level Infrastructural needs, Format III-A captures the
Family/Individual needs. Format III-B is a consolidation of Format III-A
and thus captures the Family/Individual needs at the village level. As such
Format II and Format III together capture information for each of the
Monitorable Indicators listed in para 4. Format II and Format III-B also
together capture the Action Plan proposed for fulfilling the Infrastructure
and Family/Individual needs (gaps) for each of the Monitorable
Indicators.
3. The Village Development Plan (VDP) is to be prepared as per Format IV,
V and VI. Format IV and V are a consolidation of the Action Plans already
captured in Format II and III-B and hence reflect the VDP for
Infrastructure and Family/Individual needs respectively. Format IV and V
also serve to monitor monthly progress of fulfilling the needs.
4. While planning for infrastructure it is to be noted that funds can be
accessed from Central Schemes, State Schemes, PMAGY and also from
SCA to SCSP Scheme and the same have to be specified in Format IV.
Also, in the case of four Monitorable Indicators listed at 3.4, 3.5, 3.8 and
3.9 under para 4.1, only reasons for such gaps can be captured in Format
III-A, III-B and V.
5. Format VI reflects the status of Monitorable Indicators. If this is based on
the initial needs assessment, Format VI will be a reflection of the baseline
position of the Monitorable Indicators. As and when needs are addressed,
the socio-economic indicators will improve and hence Format VI can be
accordingly updated. If needs assessment is carried out every year,
Format VI can then be comprehensively updated but in the meanwhile it
can be updated monthly based on monthly progress captured in Format
IV and V.
6. The whole exercise of the Need Assessment, data collection, gap
analysis and preparation of VDP will be done by the Village PMAGY
Convergence Committee. The VDP duly approved by the Gram Sabha of
the village will be submitted to the District PMAGY Convergence
Committee for further approval. While granting approval the District
43
 PMAGY Convergence Committee would ensure that the VDP is a robust
plan with adequate and suitable convergence with other Schemes for
saturating the infrastructure needs of the village and would lead to
desired improvements in the Monitorable Indicators. Thereafter, it would
be made a part of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

Selection of States and Villages

As per the Census 2011, there are 46844 villages having >50% Scheduled
Castes population. These villages are spread over 570 districts of 25 States &
UTs. Out of the villages having>50% SC population, only those with a total
population ≥ 500 will be eligible for selection in descending order of their SC
population in the first instance under the Scheme.

Funding
1. An amount of Rs.21.00 lakh per village will be provided for new villages
by the Central Government, out of which, Rs.20.00 lakh would be for
carrying out activities under the ‘Gap-filling’ component in selected
villages. The balance amount of Rs.1.00 lakh per village would be for
administrative and other expenses i.e. technical resource support,
training and capacity building, awareness generation, publicity etc. at
Central, State, District and Village level, and for development and
maintenance of an MIS at Central level, which will be distributed amongst
Centre, State, District and Village in a ratio of 1:1:1:[Link] fund would be
provided either from the budget of PMAGY or from the infrastructure head
of the Scheme of SCA to SCSP through convergence mode.
2. The State Governments are expected to converge at least 3 to 4 times of
Gap filling fund from other Centrally Sponsored Schemes and State
Schemes, or even State Share, so as to saturate the villages with basic
infrastructure.
3. Further, for continuous development of the villages already covered
under the earlier phases, there would be a component of an additional
round of funding of Rs. 10 lakh per village from the infrastructure head of
the Scheme of SCA to SCSP in convergence mode. Out of this, Rs.9.50
lakh per village would be utilized for ‘Gap-filling’ component and Rs.0.50
lakh per village will be distributed amongst the Centre, State, District and
Village in a ratio of 1:1:1:2 for Administrative and other expenses.

Flow of Funds

1. Financial assistance under the Scheme will be released by the Central

Government to the States/UTs in two installments. The first installment,
up to 50% of the admissible grant, will be released immediately on
44
 selection of the villages to enable State/UT Governments to carry out
capacity building, awareness generation, need assessment, preparation
of Village Development Plans including the works identified for
undertaking from the ‘Gap-filling’ funds. The balance admissible Central
Assistance would be released in respect of the VDPs finalized by the
Gram Sabhas as 2nd installment.
2. Initially, the State Government/UT Administration will release the entire
admissible funds under ‘Administrative Expenses’ to the District
Administrations for carrying out capacity building, administrative
expenses, awareness generation and initiating non cost based activities.
Thereafter the entire admissible funds under the ‘Gap-filling’ component
i.e. Rs.20.00 lakh per village will be released by the State Government to
the District Administration once the VDP of the selected villages is
approved by their DLCC so that the planned works can be executed
without any delay. The District Administration, in turn, will release funds
to the Gram Panchayats and other line Departments for execution of
identified infrastructure works under VDP.

Technical Resource Support

1. At the National level, the National Institute of Rural Development &

Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, will provide technical resource
support for the Scheme.
2. Similarly, at the State and District levels, the State Institute of Rural
Development (SIRD)
3. Extension Training Centers (ETCs) of NIRD&PR or any other reputed
Institutions as identified and selected by the States/UTs, will provide
technical resource support for the implementation of the Scheme.
4. These institutions will perform, inter alia, the following functions:
a) Orientation of State Government officials and key functionaries at
District Level.
b) Preparation of training modules for key functionaries at different
levels.
c) Training of key functionaries involved in planning, implementation
and monitoring of the Scheme at all levels.

Training and Capacity Building

Convergent implementation of the ongoing Central and State Plan Schemes in

PMAGY villages will require identification of the village needs, systematic listing
of all Central & State Plan Schemes relevant for development of the PMAGY
villages and preparation of the VDPs accordingly. Thus a clear understanding
45
needs to be developed regarding the basic features of each of the above
Schemes by persons and bodies responsible for planning, implementation and
monitoring of PMAGY. The State Governments will take up necessary training
and capacity building of the Scheme functionaries at all levels with the help of
Institutes providing technical resource support.

Awareness Generation and Publicity

Awareness generation through Information, Education and Communication

(IEC) in the selected villages and in the concerned Blocks and Districts should
be undertaken by the State Government /UT Administration to give wide
publicity to the Scheme. Besides, social messages on aspects relating to the
various socio-economic indicators of hygiene, health, nutrition etc. can be
disseminated.

Advisory Committees at the Central and State level

For overall guidance and monitoring of the Scheme, Advisory Committees

would be established at the Central and State level. The Central Advisory
Committee would be headed by the Union Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment (SJ&E). The State Advisory Committee may be headed by the
State Minister for SJ&E. These Committees may have a suitable number of
public representatives, besides representatives of concerned
Ministries/Departments and bodies. Composition of the Central and State
Advisory Committees is at Annexure VII.

Steering-cum-Monitoring Committees at the Central and State Level

At the level of Central and State Governments Steering-cum-Monitoring

Committees will be established, which will perform the following functions:
1. Address day-to-day broad policy issues and ensure convergence in
implementation of the Scheme
2. Monitor implementation of the Scheme, and Issue supplementary
implementation guidelines from time to time.
3. These may meet once every quarter but not less than twice in a year.

PMAGY Convergence Committees at the State, District and Village level:-

1. The PMAGY Convergence Committees will play a key role in the

successful implementation of the Scheme. These Committees will ensure
that PMAGY funds serve the purpose of gap filling while saturation in
infrastructure and improvement of socio-economic indicators is achieved
by way of convergence with various Central and State Schemes.
46
 2. The Convergence Committees will also ensure that Need Assessment is
carried out as per Formats I, II, III-A and III-B and that Action Plan and
Progress Reports are monitored as per Formats IV, V and VI as well as
Formats VII and VIII. The Convergence Committees, in short, will be
responsible for both implementation of the Scheme and its monitoring.
3. The State PMAGY Convergence Committee will be headed by Principal
Secretary, Social Welfare Department and would have Members from
other concerned departments with which convergence would be required
under the Scheme. Similarly, the District PMAGY Convergence
Committee will be headed by the District Collector and would have
Members from the other concerned Departments.
4. The Village PMAGY Convergence Committees will be headed by the
Sarpanch of the village and will have all SC members of the Panchayat
and concerned line officials viz. AWWs, Asha workers etc. This
Committee would be responsible for conducting Need Assessment,
collecting the baseline data, preparation of the VDP as well as
implementation and monitoring of the Scheme in the village. The
Committee will be assisted by one of the SC member of Panchayat from
the village, who will be the Member Secretary for the Committee.
5. However, the State/UT Governments may include or exclude any
members if in their opinion it is in the interest of the Scheme to do so.
While the State level Convergence Committee will meet once a quarter,
the District and Village level Convergence Committees need to meet
once a month to ensure smooth execution of the Scheme.

Time Frame

1. The time limit for utilizing PMAGY funds i.e. ‘Gap-filling’ funds will be
Two(02) years from the date of release of funds for all selected villages;
new villages as well as villages selected under additional round of
funding. Convergent implementation, however, will continue for another
Three(03) years at least in all the selected villages in order to ensure
maintenance of the basic ‘Adarsh Gram’ milestones, and stabilization and
improvement in the Monitorable Indicators.
2. Monitoring Mechanisms: Submission of Progress Reports, Monitoring,
Management Information System (MIS), Evaluation and Social Audit
3. The Programme Director at District level will update the progress of work
of each selected village in formats IV, V and VI. In addition, the District
PMAGY Programme Director will furnish the MPR as per Format VII while
State PMAGY Programme Director will furnish the MPR as per Format.
4. The performance under the Scheme will be reviewed by the various
Committees at different levels from time to time.

47
 5. An effective & centralized MIS would be put in place, which would capture
computerized database of the selected villages, including baseline values
of the monetrable Indicators. Improvement in these Indicators after
PMAGY interventions begin will be monitored periodically. This MIS will
also be used for monitoring the progress in implementation of the action
planned under various Schemes whose convergent implementation is
sought to be achieved in the villages, and also the activities undertaken
under the ‘Gap-filling’ component.
6. The “administrative expenses” provided for under the Scheme will be
utilized for the following items:
7. Independent evaluations of the Scheme will be undertaken through
reputed Institutions working in the area of Rural Development or Social
Sciences or Management etc.
8. The Gram Sabha will be expected to undertake a social audit of PMAGY,
on the same lines as it is required to do under Section 17 of the National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

State and National-level Awards for Best Performing Villages

To encourage the States to implement the Scheme in a holistic manner in their

States, upto 03 best performing villages from each State/UT (one village for
each 50 selected villages) will be selected on the basis of defined parameters
by a designated Selection Committee to be constituted by the Ministry. For this
purpose the selected villages will be given an award of Rs. 5 lakh each. Further,
03 villages amongst these villages will be selected for National Awards of Rs.
10 lakh each.

48
2.7 The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

In pursuance of Article 17 of the Constitution of India, the Untouchability

(Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted and notified on 08.05.1955. Subsequently, it
was amended and renamed in 1976 as the “Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955”.
Rules under this Act, viz “The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were
notified in 1977. The Act extends to the whole of India and provides punishment
for the practice of untouchability. It is implemented by the respective State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights {PCR} Act, 1955

(i) Offences under the Act

Sections 3-7A of the Act defines the following as offences if committed on the
ground of “untouchability”, and lay down punishment for them:
a) Prevention from entering public worship places, [using sacred water
resources] (Section 3).
b) Denial of access to any shop, public restaurant, hotel, public entertainment,
cremation ground etc. (Section 4).
c) Refusal of admission to any hospital, dispensary, educational institutions etc.
(Section 5).
d) Refusal to sell goods and render services (Section 6).
e) Molestation, causing injury, insult etc. (Section 7).
f) Compelling a person on the ground of untouchability to do any scavenging or
sweeping or to remove any carcass etc. (Section 7A)

(ii) Punishments under the Act:

a) Cancellation or suspension of licenses on conviction (Section 8).
b) Resumption or suspension of grants made by the Government (Section 9).
c) Punishment for wilful neglect of investigation by a public servant (Section
10).
d) Power of State Government to impose collective fine (Section 10A).
e) Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction (Section 11)

Structure and Mechanism for implementation of the PCR Act in various

States/UTs is as under:
The Act provides for
(a) Legal Aid,
(b) Special Courts,
(c) Committees to assist State Governments for implementation of the Act,
and
(d) Special police stations

49
2.8 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act 1989

The PoA Act was enforced on 31.01.1990, with a view to prevent “atrocities
against members of SCs and STs, to provide for Special Courts for the trial of
such offences, and for relief and rehabilitation of the victims” of atrocities. With
an objective to deliver members of SCs and STs, a greater justice as well as be
an enhanced deterrent to the offenders, the PoA Act was amended several
times to enhance its implementation with a considerable reduction in the rate of
crime against the marginalised communities like the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes.

Measures to be taken by State Governments for effective implementation

of the Act include
(a) Economic and social rehabilitation of victims of the atrocities;
(b) Setting up of Committees at appropriate levels;
(c) Identification of atrocity prone areas;
(d)Legal aid to the persons subjected to atrocities to enable them to avail
themselves of justice;
(e)Appointment of officers for initiating or exercising supervision over
prosecution for contravention of the provisions of the Act; and
(f) Periodic survey of the working of the provisions of the Act (Section 21 (2).

Structure and Mechanism for implementation of the PoA Act in various

States/UTs is as under
(a)Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts
(b)Special Public Prosecutor and Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors
(c)Setting up of SC/ST Protection Cells at State Headquarters
(d)Special Police Stations
(e)State and District Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees

Committee to review implementation of PCR and PoA Acts

On the basis of a recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on the
Welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a Committee was set
up under the Chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Social Justice and
Empowerment. The Committee has three nonofficial representatives from
amongst Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Committee has so far
held twenty five meetings wherein implementation of the two Acts in 24 States
and 4 Union Territories has been reviewed.

50
Assistance to States/ UTs for Implementation of the Protection of Civil
Rights Act, 1955 and the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Under the Centrally sponsored scheme for implementation of the Protection of
Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989,
due Central assistance is provided to the States/ UTs, mainly for strengthening
of the enforcement and judicial machinery, incentive for inter-caste marriages
where one of the spouses is a member of SC, awareness generation and relief
and rehabilitation of the affected persons. The total expenditure over and above
the committed liability is shared on a 50:50 basis between the Central
Government, concerned State Government and Union Territory Administrations
receive 100% Central assistance.

51
 2.9 NATIONAL OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP

Objective:

The Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship is to facilitate the

low income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic
and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional
Artisans category to obtain higher education viz., Master degree or Ph. D
courses by studying abroad thereby improving their Economic and Social
status.

Scope:
In each Selection Year, there are 100 fresh awards, subject to availability of
funds. Out of 100 Awards, 90 Awards are for Scheduled Castes candidates, 06
Awards are for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless
Agricultural Labourers candidates and 04 Awards are for Traditional Artisans
candidates. The Scheme provides financial assistance to the selected
candidates for pursuing Masters level courses and Ph.D. courses abroad in the
Institutions/Universities accredited by the Government/an authorized body of
that country in any fields of study. 30% of the awards for each year are
earmarked for women candidates.

Eligibility

1. In order to be eligible for scholarship, at least 60%of marks or equivalent

grade in the qualifying examination would be required. In the case of Ph.
D courses, the qualifying exam is Master’s Degree and for Master’s
Degree courses, the qualifying examination is Bachelors' Degree. The
age of the candidate should not be more than 35 (Thirty Five) years, as
on the first day of April of the selection year. Total family income from all
sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding year.
Under the Scheme, for determination of family income, the family is
considered as follows: “The candidate applying for scholarship, his/her
parents and siblings below the age of 18 years and also his/ her spouse
and children below the age of 18 years.
2. Note: In case of married women, income of the in-laws and her spouse
and children below the age of 18 years is to be considered

52
2.10 Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class
Education for SC students

Background:

The Finance Minister in his budget speech on the Union Budget 2005-06 made
the following announcements – “The key to empowering the scheduled castes
and scheduled tribes is to provide top class education opportunities to
meritorious students. The three on-going scholarship schemes for SC/ST
students under the Central Plan – pre-Matric, post-Matric and merit-based – will
continue. To provide an added incentive, I propose a new window: a short list
of institutes of excellence will be notified, and any SC/ST student who secures
admission in one of those institutes will be awarded a larger scholarship that
will meet the requirements for tuition fees, living expenses, books and a
computer.”
The Scheme was approved in 2007 and was subsequently revised in January,
2012 and June 2016.

Objectives and Scope:

1. The Scheme aims at recognizing and promoting quality education

amongst students belonging to SCs, by providing full financial support.
The scheme will cover SC students for pursuing studies beyond 12th
class.
2. The scheme will operate in all institutions notified by the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment.
3. The SC students, who secure admission in the notified institutions, will
be awarded scholarship to meet the requirements for (i) full tuition fee
and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakhs per
annum per student for private sector institutions and Rs.3.72 lakhs per
annum per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot
Training and Type Rating Courses), (ii) living expenses to the beneficiary
@ Rs. 2220/- per month per student. However, the advance payment of
living expenses, to be paid directly by the Central Government, through
Direct Benefits Transfer mode would be restricted to 1 quarter only. (iii)
books and stationery @ Rs. 3000/- per annum per student and (iv) a
latest computer with accessories like UPS, Printer, Multi-media limited to
Rs. 45000/- per student as one time assistance during the course. The
Institute will procure computers and supply to the awardees.
Alternatively, the Institute may also consider reimbursement of expenses
made by a student on Purchase of the computer. Limited Rs. 45,000/-
provided, the computer and accessories are procured from a reputed
manufacturer/supplier.
53
 4. The scholarship, once awarded, will continue till the completion of the
course, subject to satisfactory performance.

3. Eligibility

1. Those SC students who have secured admission in the notified

institutions according to the norms prescribed by the respective
institutions will be eligible for the scholarship under the scheme to the
extent of the number of scholarships allocated to the institutes concerned.
In case the number of students admitted exceeds the number of awards,
then the scholarship will be restricted to the top ones in the inter-se merit
list. The remaining students from SC category admitted in the institute in
different courses shall be eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS)
administered by this Ministry as a centrally sponsored scheme, provided
such students are otherwise eligible for the said scheme. In case, the
institute finds that the number of eligible candidates in the 1st year are
less than the number of scholarships allotted to it, the balance
scholarships may be offered to students studying in 2nd, 3rd and 4th
year, etc. one the basis of inter-se merit of previous year’s result giving
priority to those with higher number of Years left to complete their
respective course i.e. 1st Year students is to get priority over the 2nd year
students and so on.
2. Thirty percent (30%) of slots allotted to the Institute shall be reserved for
eligible SC girl students as per their inter-se merit. In absence of sufficient
number of girl students, the slots may be transferred to eligible boy
students as per their merit.
3. However, the 30% slots as mentioned above will not include those girl
students who are selected on the basis of their performance in the overall
merit list of SC students of the Institute.
4. The ceiling of total annual family income from all sources under the
Scheme is Rs. 6.00 lakh and the general selection criteria among the
eligible candidates of any institution must be the merit. However, if for the
last available slot in an institution, there is more than one student with
equal marks; preference may be given to the student with the lowest
parental income.
5. The benefit of the Scheme will not be provided to more than 2 siblings in
a family. The students will submit an affidavit to this effect in the Institute
to certify that he/she is not the 3rd sibling of the family who is availing the
benefit under the Scheme.
6. The ceiling of total annual family income from all sources under the
Scheme is Rs. 6.00 lakh and the general selection criteria among the
eligible candidates of any institution must be the merit. However, if for the
last available slot in an institution, there is more than one student with
equal marks; preference may be given to the student with the lowest
parental income.
54
7. The scholarship will become payable immediately after a student has
secured admission and has started attending the classes.
8. The scholarship will be terminated if the student fails to pass the final
examination of each year or any terminal examination or semester
examination prescribed. He will, however, remain eligible for the Post-
Matric Scholarship.

Institutes of Excellence and Number of Scholarship Slots

1. Institutes of Excellence and Number of Scholarship Slots: All the IIMs /

IITs/ IIITs / AIIMS/ NIFT/ NID/ Indian Institutes of Hotel Management,
National Law Universities and other Central Government Institutes will be
eligible to be included in the Scheme, subject to their applying for being
included in the Scheme. If an institute is not in any of the above
categories, it has to be included in the current list of
 National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) A++ and
A+ Accredited Institutions
 Top 100 National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) Institutions,
Institutions of National Importance; as per lists issued by the
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) from time to
time. However, the overall number of fresh scholarships per year
would be capped at 1500.
2. For Commercial Pilot Training Course and Type Rating Courses all
Government institutes approved by Director General of Civil Aviation shall
be eligible for empanelment under the Scheme.
3. In respect of those institutes in which fee has been waived for SC
students, the other four components, namely other non-refundable
charges, boarding and lodging, Books and Stationary and PC and
accessories- may be reimbursed under the scheme.
4. The list of the Top Class Institutions to be covered under the Scheme
along with the number of scholarship slots will be notified by the
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Any addition or deletion
to the list shall be notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Government of India, as and when required, based on
the recommendations of the Steering Committee.
5. Any institute not applying under the Scheme continuously for 3 years
shall be removed from the list of notified institutions under the Scheme.
6. The private institutions empanelled under the pre-revised Scheme shall
continue to be empanelled till 2019-20.
7. From 2020-21 their empanelment will be subject to their fulfilling the
criteria as prescribed in para 4.1 and 4.5 above.

55
General provisions

1. The scholarship will become Payable to SC students only upon securing

admission in any of the institutions notified by the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment.
2. The students, who are awarded the scholarship under the scheme, shall
have to pursue the study in the respective institution on a whole time
basis.
3. With a view to ensure access of all students to the provisions of this
scheme, the institute will incorporate the salient features of the scheme
in the prospectus in addition to putting the same on the website of the
institute. The institute will select the SC students on the basis of merit and
shall forward the applications of the eligible students in the prescribed
proforma (Annexure- A) for ongoing students along with proof of
admission and fee chargeable etc. to claim the scholarship. The Institute
will not charge any fee, whatsoever, from the students.
4. From 2017-18 (fresh year) the Scheme of Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT)
would be implemented both for the institutions and the [Link] DBT
Institutions would have to forward the digitally signed digitised list to the
Central Government for crediting the amount directly in the bank account
of the eligible beneficiaries admitted from the academic session 2013-14
onward s/institutions.
5. After disbursement the institute will furnish a Utilization Certificate
towards the amount received, which will include the signatures of the
scholarship holders.
6. The Ministry may also directly credit the funds as per the advice of the
intuitions in the bank account of the payee as per the policy of the
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
7. The performance of the SC students covered under the scheme shall be
monitored regularly by the Head of the respective institution and the same
shall be reported, through a report card, to the Union Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment at the end of each academic year.
8. The notified institutions shall submit progress reports of implementation
of the Scheme to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
from time to time, as required.
9. Any institution violating the provisions of the Scheme and/or instructions
issued by the Government of India will be de-notified.
10. In the event of de-notification/deletion of any institution, the
scholarship will continue to be available to the SC students already
admitted under the Scheme, if otherwise eligible, till completion of the
course. However, no fresh seats will be allotted and funds released to
such de-notified institutes.

56
 11. The general provisions of the General Financial Rules (GFR),
2017, will apply mutatis mutandis, and the institutions shall be bound by
the general principles laid therein.

Review and monitoring

The progress of implementation of the scheme will be reviewed by a Steering

Committee consisting of the following

 Secretary (SJ&E) – Chairperson

 Joint Secretary & Financial Adviser (SJ&E) – Member
 Joint Secretary (TA),M/o Tribal Affairs – Member
 Joint Secretary, SC Division, M/o SJ&E – Member
 Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education – Member
 Joint Secretary, Department. of Medical Education, M/o H&FW – Member
 A representative of the UGC – Member
 A representative of the Planning Commission- Member

Director/Dy. Secretary, SCD Division, M/o SJ&E – Convener

 The Committee may invite an expert as a special invitee, as and when it
deems necessary.
 The Committee may recommend to the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment about addition or deletion of any institution based on their
performance. For the purpose, the Committee may take into account the
recommendations of the concerned bodies conducting entrance
examinations for admissions into such courses or having the
administrative control over such institutes.
 The Committee may periodically review the performance of the selected
institutes on the basis of the academic results. The Committee may also
recommend appropriate modifications in the Scheme, as and when
required.

Administrative Expenses
 As the magnitude of data to be managed and processed would be very
large. There would be a need to engage qualified skilled personnel right
from the beginning to ensure that the date based computerized systems
are operational. Qualified skilled personnel possessing requisite
expertise to design, develop and operate the computer Programmes for
the Purpose, as well as enter, process, analyse, monitor, retrieve and
transfer data should be engaged on contract basis as per need. This work
could also be outsourced. Data Provided by the Educational Institutions
will be maintained and managed by the Ministry with Personnel of similar
57
 expertise to be engaged on contract basis through outside reputed
institutions/agencies engaged by the Ministry of SJ&E, Government of
India.
 A Provision not exceeding 6% if the total budget will be made to meet the
administrative and allied costs viz expenditure of the Educational
Institutions and the Ministry for office equipments including computers
and accessories, furniture, development of appropriate software,
advertisements, engagement of personnel, [Link] provision will also be
used for publicity, awareness generation, evaluation and monitoring of
the Scheme, through outside institutions/agencies engaged by the
Ministry of SJ&E, Government of India and the educational institutions.
 The modifications as considered appropriate in the Provisions of the
Scheme, from time to time, would be approved by the Administrative
Minister, on the recommendations of the committee as given in the above
para.

58
2.11 National Fellowship for Providing Fellowship to
Scheduled Caste Students
Introduction

National Fellowship scheme for Scheduled Caste Students, is a Central Sector

Scheme introduced during the financial year 2005-06 to provide opportunities
to Scheduled Castes students for pursuing higher education leading to
[Link]/Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Science streams.

Objectives

The objective of the scheme is to provide fellowships in the form of financial

assistance to students belonging to SC category to pursue higher studies
leading to [Link]/Ph.D in Science, Humanities, Social Science and Engineering
and Technology, in Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges recognized by
University Grants Commission (UGC).

Scope of the scheme

The scheme provides for new 2000 Fellowships (1500 Junior Research Fellows
for Humanities/ Social Sciences and 500 Junior Research Fellows for Science
stream) per year to such Scheduled Caste students to undertake advanced
studies and research leading to [Link]/ Ph.D Degrees, who have qualified
National Eligibility Test- Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC (for
Humanities/ Social Sciences ) or UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (UGC-CSIR) NET–JRF joint test (for Science stream including
Engineering & Technology).

Implementing agency

UGC is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme and is responsible for
laying down procedures/ guidelines for implementing the scheme, including
selection of beneficiaries and disbursement of fellowships to selected
candidates.

Eligibility

Fellowships shall be awarded to SC candidates for pursuing regular and full

time [Link]./Ph.D. courses in Universities/Research Institutions recognized by
UGC. Scheduled Castes candidates who have already secured admission and
qualify NET examination will be given preference. In case sufficient candidates,
who have already secured admission are not available, candidates who have
not yet secured admission will also be selected in the order of merit in the NET
examination.

59
Duration of Fellowship

Admissibility of JRF and SRF

Name of the Course Maximum duration
JRF SRF

M. Phil 2 years 2 years Nil

Ph.D. 5 years 2 years Remaining 3 years

[Link] + Ph.D. 5 years 2 years Remaining 3 years

Rates of fellowship

The rates of fellowship for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Senior Research
Fellow (SRF) will be at par with the UGC fellowships. The rates with effect from
01-12-2019 are as under:

Fellowships in all streams @ Rs. 31,000 per month for

initial two years (JRF)

@Rs. 35,000 per month for

remaining tenure (SRF)

Contingency for Humanities & Social Sciences @ Rs. 10,000 per month for
initial two years (JRF)

@Rs. 20,500 per month for

remaining tenure (SRF)
Contingency for Sciences, Engineering & @ Rs. 12,000 per annum for
Technology initial two years

@Rs. 25,000 per annum for

remaining tenure

Escort/Reader assistance (All subjects)for @ Rs. 2000 per month

physically and visually handicapped candidates
@Rs. 2000 per month

60
House Rent Allowance (HRA) at the rate of 8%, 16% and 24% is allowed to
those students who are not provided with hostel accommodation, in accordance
with Govt. of India norms as applicable in the city/ location where the research
fellows are working. In case hostel accommodation offered by the
university/institution is refused by the candidate, he/she will forfeit his/her claim
of HRA. The other facilities such as medical facilities, leave including maternity
leave will be governed as per the guidelines of UGC in case of their fellowship
programme.

61
2.12 Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and
OBC students
Objective

The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for

economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates to enable them to appear
in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in the
Public/ Private sector.

Courses for Coaching

 Group A and B examinations conducted by the Union Public Service

Commission (UPSC) and the State Public Service Commissions(SPSC),
Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Boards
(RRBs);
 Officers' Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies
and Public Sector Undertakings ((PSUs);
 Premier Entrance examinations for admission in Engineering (eg. IIT-
JEE & AIEEE), Medical (eg. NEET), Professional courses like
Management (eg. CAT) & Law (eg. CLAT); and
 Eligibility tests/ examinations like SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOEFL.
 Entrance examination tests for CPL courses/ National Defence Academy
and Combined Defence Services.

Mode of implementation

The Scheme is implemented in two distinct Modes and the student shall be free
to choose any one mode for obtaining benefit under the Scheme. The Modes
are as follows:

Mode 1

A total of two thousand slots (seats) are distributed amongst reputed

coaching institutes empanelled under the Scheme. Mode 1 of the
Scheme is implemented through the reputed coaching institutions/
centres run by the Central Government/State Governments/ UT
Administrations/ PSUs/Autonomous Bodies under Central/ State
Governments; Central & State Universities including the Deemed &
Private Universities recognized by concerned authority; and Registered
Private Institutions/ NGOs.

62
Mode 2

The Ministry directly selects a total of two thousand students on the

recommendations of the Selection Committee under the Scheme. These
students shall have the liberty to pursue the coaching course in any institute of
their choice.
During the year 2021-22, based on recommendation of EFC, guidelines have
been revised and slots under this scheme reduced from total 4000 ( 2000 for
mode 1 and 2000 for mode 2) to 3500 (2000 for mode 1 and 1500 for mode 2).
Proposal is pending for Cabinet approval.

Category-wise Ratio of Candidates

The ratio of SC and OBC students to be coached under the Scheme is 70:30.
In case of non-availability adequate number of candidates in a particular
category, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can relax this ratio.

Eligibility criteria for applying for Empanelment of Coaching Institutions

 The institute should be a registered body or run by any organization

registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860/Companies Act,
2013 or any other relevant Act of the State/Union Territory.
 The institute should have been registered at least for a period of 3 years
as on date of calling of applications from States/UTs/Coaching
Institutions for empanelment by the Ministry.
 The institute should have been fully functional for a minimum period of 3
years at the time of applying under this Scheme and having a minimum
enrolment of 100 students in the courses each year for at least two years,
immediately prior to the year in which it was selected for empanelment.
 The institute must have proper infrastructure including provision for
aadhar based biometric attendance for students and faculty to meet all
requirements for providing coaching in the courses applied for.

Selection of Institutions:
 The proposals for empanelment of coaching institutions will be
considered by a Selection Committee and recommended for selection
based on their past record of performance and other criteria to be
determined by the Selection Committee. The institutions for providing
coaching will finally be selected by the Ministry based on the
recommendations of the Selection Committee chaired by the Joint
Secretary. The institutions, once selected, enter into an Agreement with
the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
with regard to the courses to be offered, terms and conditions of

63
 empanelment, fee structures, number of slots, duration of courses,
furnishing of Utilization Certificates, etc.

Selection of beneficiary students

 Only students belonging to SCs and OBCs having total family income
from all sources of Rs.8.00 lakh or less per annum will be eligible for
benefits under the Scheme.
 In Mode-1, the students are selected by the coaching institution based on
academic criteria prescribed by the institution itself. However, the
institution may relax these criteria for SC/OBC candidates as per terms
to be laid down in the Agreement.
 In Mode-2, the students are selected by the Ministry based on the
recommendations of the Selection Committee.
 Benefits under the Scheme can be availed by a particular student not
more than twice, irrespective of the number of chances he/she may be
entitled to take in a particular competitive examination. The coaching
institution will also be required to take an affidavit from the students that
they have not taken benefit more than twice under the Scheme.
 Where examination is conducted in two stages viz. Preliminary and Main,
the candidates will be entitled for free coaching for both the examinations.
They will be entitled for free coaching upto two times each for Preliminary
and Main examinations as per their convenience. However, there will be
no restriction in the number of chances for coaching for Interview, if the
candidate is selected for interview.
 The selected students shall have to attend all classes. In the event of any
student remaining absent for more than 15 days without any valid reason,
benefits of free coaching to him/her shall be discontinued under intimation
to this Ministry.

Funding Pattern

 The grant in aid will be in two parts- Fee and Stipend. Under Mode-1, the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will fund the entire fees for
the coaching provided to selected SC/OBC candidates as per the terms
and conditions of the Scheme and as mutually agreed to at the time of
empanelment. Stipend will be paid through DVT into account of students
directly. Under Mode-2, since the students are selected directly from this
department, therefore both part of grant in aid i.e. Fee and stipend will be
paid into account of students as per the guidelines of the scheme.

64
Physical and financial performance

The details of the total expenditure incurred and number of beneficiaries

covered under the Scheme during the last four years and current year are as
under:

Financial BE RE Amount Released/ No. of the

Year beneficiaries
Expenditure (in
Rs.)
2018-19 30.00 15.00 14.87 1296

2019-20 30.00 15.00 13.26 1345

2020-21 30.00 15.00 11.96 2112

65
Backward Class Division
Name of the Scheme/ Project

3.1 Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Other

Backward Classes for Studies in India
Objective
It has been recognized that education and economic support for backward
Classes has not been adequate and there is disparity between them and the
non-backward sections of the population at every level.
The children of OBCs from the poorer section has a tendency to avoid going to
schools as they often have to provide a helping hand to their parents in
traditional occupation or otherwise supplement the family income. A scheme of
Pre-matric Scholarship would be helpful in spreading education amongst such
children especially amongst the girl child of weaker sections.
Scope
OBCs living below double the poverty line form a bigger chunk of a population
and there are disparities amongst OBCs themselves to start with, the
scholarship is awarded to school going children of poorer OBC parents whose
annual income is below double the poverty line.
Expectation from the State: -
1. To submit State Annual Action Plan for Financial Assistance
2. To implement the scheme as per the central guidelines
3. To monitor the scheme implementation

66
3.2 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship
for OBC Students for studying in India
Objective

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the OBC

students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them
to complete their education.

Scope

These scholarships shall be available for studies in India only and will be
awarded by the Government of State/Union Territory to which the applicant
actually belongs, i.e. permanently settled.

Expectation from the State: -

1. To submit State Annual Action Plan for Financial Assistance

2. To implement the scheme as per the central guidelines
3. To monitor the scheme implementation

67
3.3 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Dr Ambedkar Pre-Matric
and Post-Matric Scholarship for DNTs

Background
It has been recognized that education and economic support for De-notified,
Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes has not been adequate and there is
disparity between the DNTs and other sections of the population at every level.
The children from the poorer sections of DNTs has a tendency to avoid going
to schools as they often have to provide a helping hand to their parents in
traditional occupation or otherwise supplement the family income. A scheme of
Pre-matric Scholarship would be helpful in spreading education amongst such
children especially amongst the girl child of weaker sections.
Objective of the Scheme
1. The scheme is to provide support for DNTs who are not covered under
SC, ST or OBC. The Scheme is for bringing about a focused intervention
on these classes so that they are empowered socially and economically
and their lives are also improved.
2. The scholarship schemes is for individual beneficiaries not covered under
any scheme.
3. The financial assistance would be released to the State Governments/UT
Administrations/ Universities/Colleges which would cater to the
requirements of the students belonging to DNT communities.

Expectation from the State: -

1. To submit State Annual Action Plan for Financial Assistance
2. To implement the scheme as per the central guidelines
3. To monitor the scheme implementation

68
3.4 Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-
Matric Scholarships for the Economically Backward Class
(EBC) Students
Objective

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the

Economically Backward Class (EBC) students studying at post-matriculation or
post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

Scope

These scholarships shall be available for studies in India only and will be
awarded by the Government of State/Union Territory to which the applicant
actually belongs, i.e. permanently settled.

Expectation from the State:-

1. To submit State Annual Action Plan for Financial Assistance

2. To implement the scheme as per the central guidelines
3. To monitor the scheme implementation

69
 3.5 Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of
Hostels for OBC Boys and Girls
Background

The Centrally-sponsored Scheme for Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and
Girls is being implemented since 1998-99 to address the problem of educational
backwardness of OBCs. The Scheme is initiated with a view to facilitate
continuation of education by students belonging to OBCs, especially those
hailing from rural and remote areas and from poor families.

Objective

The Scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially

and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them
to pursue secondary and higher education. Priority will be given for the
proposals for construction of hostels for under-graduate students’ vis-a-vis
below under-graduate level.

Expectation from the State: -

1. To submit State Annual Action Plan for Financial Assistance

2. To implement the scheme as per the central guidelines
3. To monitor the scheme implementation

70
Senior Citizen Division
Name of the Scheme/ Project

4.1 Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)

This Scheme lays down in one document, the vision, mission and the immediate
plan of action of the Government of India for welfare and well-being of senior
citizens of the country. All the issues of relevance to older persons have been
taken into account in the scheme in order to ensure that older persons are not
left behind and they can live a long and healthy life. It brings together articulation
of each of the current schemes, future strategic plans, and targets and maps it
with schemes/programmes, accountabilities, financials and clear outcomes.
This Plan takes care of the needs of the senior citizens viz. financial security,
shelter, food, health care and human interaction/life of dignity. It also includes
the facets of safety/protection and general wellbeing of the elderly beginning by
generation of awareness and sensitization of the society.
The Scheme has been formulated on the basis of several discussions and
deliberations held with Officers of Central Ministries/Departments dealing with
the issues related to the Senior Citizens and representatives from National
Institute of Social Defence (NISD), National Institute of Rural Development and
Panchayati Raj (NIRD), Regional Resource & Training Centres of Sr. Citizen
Division of the Ministry and reports received from the seven Working Groups
which were constituted for designing comprehensive programmatic initiatives
covering
1. Promoting Financial Security
2. Healthcare and nutrition
3. Promoting livelihoods and income generating activities
4. Schemes for Shelter and Welfare
5. Skilling and reskilling senior citizens for productive aging
6. Awareness and capacity building and
7. Promoting silver economy, etc.

The scheme is to implement Section 19 and 20 of the Maintenance and Welfare

of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. Section 19 of the Act inter alia states
that the State Government may establish and maintain such number of old age
homes at accessible places, as it may deem necessary, in a phased manner,
beginning with at least one in each district to accommodate in such homes a
minimum of one hundred fifty senior citizens who are indigent.
71
The State Government may prescribe a scheme for management of old age
homes, including the standards and various types of services to be provided by
them which are necessary for medical care and means of entertainment to the
inhabitants of such homes. (Explanation- For the purposes of this section,
“indigent” means any senior citizen who is not having sufficient means, as
determined by the State Government, from time to time, to maintain himself.)
This scheme shall also cover all possible affirmative action's which can be taken
for the welfare and well-being of the Senior Citizens in the county enabling each
one of them to live a life with dignity. Action can be taken under any objectives
given at para 2.3 of this Scheme and its sub components as stated above. The
activities / schemes / programmes incorporated therein can be implemented
either independently by the Government of India, or in collaboration with State
Governments and other implementing agencies including voluntary and non-
voluntary organizations/ Trusts/ Charitable companies/ Registered Societies
/any public body or organizations having legal status of its own, any other
organization of repute which may be approved by the Secretary, Social Justice
and Empowerment, Government of India.

72
4.2 National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC)
The scheme has 02 sub-schemes:-

1. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

2. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

Maintenance of Senior Citizen Homes (Senior Citizen Home) to improve the

quality of life of the Senior Citizens, especially indigent senior citizens by
providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment
opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing.

Target beneficiaries: Indigents (Senior citizens not having sufficient means of

living)

Projects admissible:-

1. Maintenance of Senior Citizens' Homes for 25 beneficiaries,

2. Maintenance of Senior Citizens' Homes for 50 beneficiaries,
3. Maintenance of Senior Citizens' Homes for 50 elderly women only,
4. Maintenance of Continuous Care Homes and Homes for senior citizens
afflicted with Alzheimer's disease/ Dementia,
5. Maintenance of Regional Resource and Training Centres,
6. Maintenance of Mobile Medicare Unit (MMU) for Senior Citizens (only
on-going projects) (vii) Physiotherapy Clinics for Senior Citizens (only
on-going projects).

1. Existing Senior Citizens' Homes (Senior Citizen Home) – {Popularly known

as Old Age Homes (OAHs)}: Financial assistance will be given under the
Scheme for maintenance of Senior Citizen Homes, to provide food, care and
shelter to indigent Senior Citizens. The Implementing Agencies are free to
provide additional items/other amenities in these homes from their own
resources. On-going Senior Citizen Homes (already assisted under
NAPSrC) will continue to be eligible for assistance subject to following all the
standards, guidelines, rules and laws. The process for providing assistance
to such Homes will continue to be in the same way as is being done, with
the exceptions of changes to be done under the current Scheme, through E-
anudaan portal ([Link]
2. New Senior Citizen Homes: As per Section 19 of the Maintenance and
Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSC), 2007 the State
Governments are to set up Senior Citizen Homes (SrCH) in every district.
Accordingly, each State/ UT Government, for new SrCH to be assisted under
the Scheme, will conduct a district-wise survey of the existing Senior Citizen
73
 Homes in each district, run by Private firm / Private institute / State
Government / UT Government/ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/
Registered Societies /Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Self Help Groups/
Foundations/ Charities/ NGOs/ etc., and plot them on a map. If in any district,
no Sr. citizen home is working or sufficient capacitate Senior Citizen Homes
are not available as per the local need then the State Government may
suggest for new /additional Senior Citizen Homes.

Expectations from the State:

1. The State governments are expected to prepare the State Action plan for
Senior Citizens to be submitted to the ministry.
a) Instructions for State Government for implementing models under
SAPSrC
b) Funding and support Mechanism: State Government/UT shall devise
appropriate mechanism for funding of the Programmes as per their
convenience in accordance with the GFR provisions.
c) Operational Guidelines and Monitoring of the programmes: State
Governments/ UTs shall prescribe operational guidelines including
eligibility criteria for the Implementing Agencies and ensure processes for
monitoring of the project being supported under the SAPSrC/NAPSrC.
Suitable monitoring mechanism for this purpose may be devised. State
Governments may also utilise the Regional Resource and Training
Centres of this Ministry for monitoring and guidance purposes.
d) Inspection: Programmes under the SAPSrC shall be open for inspection
by the officers of this Ministry/ Project Monitoring Unit or by Third party
as authorised by the Ministry.

2. Selection of new projects for setting up the SrCH under IPSrC shall be
decided by a selection committee at the State / UT Government level. The
selection committee shall have (5) members:
(i) Secy/Principal Secretary in charge of Senior Citizen welfare -
Chairman
(ii) Director at UT/State level in the Department dealing with
welfare work for Senior Citizens
(iii) Representative of Internal Finance of the Senior Citizen
Department of the State/UT
(iv) The State Coordinator of PMU of the Ministry - Convenor
(v) An expert /reputed social worker in the field of elderly care

3. The new proposals received will be assessed on the following criteria as per
the following weightage:-
a) Performance of the organization based on predetermined
parameters: 50%
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 b) Organisations majorly working in the field of Old Age care : 20%
c) Resource generation/ mobilization of resources by the organisation
: 20%
d) Transparency/online proactive disclosure by the organisation:
10%.
e) The Selection committee may recommend more than one agency
based on the need of Senior Citizen homes in a particular district.

4. The State/ UT Government will undertake to construct its own Senior Citizen
Home building within 05 years from the date of sanction of the project. Till
that period, Sr. Citizen Homes shall be arranged through the selected
agencies only. After arranging state owned Senior Citizen homes, the
agencies selected shall be responsible to only run and maintain the Home
in the building provided by States/UTs as per the specified standards.

Expectations from the Districts:

1. The DSWOs are expected to feed the details of ongoing projects (Senior
Citizen Home CCH, Physiotherapy and MMUs) in their respective districts
on the e-anudaan portal.
2. Requirements of new projects (SrCHs and CCH in Gap/ Insufficient
Districts) Under IPSrC are to be entered online in the E-anudaan portal
so that notifications for new proposals can be issued by the ministry.
3. For new and existing cases, selection of indigents for Senior Citizens
Homes will be as per the section 19 of the Maintenance and Welfare of
Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and its prevailing rules in
States/UTs. The admission into the Homes shall be done by a District
Committee chaired by the District Collector/ District Magistrate, which
shall ensure that the poorest and the destitute persons are properly
identified and selected for admission in the Homes.
4. Further, the District Committee shall ensure that the conditions and
performance of the Homes are checked periodically and also discreetly

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4.3 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
A Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted Living Devices for Senior
Citizens below poverty line & with the family income not exceeding to Rs.
15,000/- per month.

The Central Sector Scheme aims at providing senior citizens, suffering from any
of the age related disability/infirmity with such assisted-living devices which can
restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. The assistive devices shall be of
high quality and conforming to the standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian
Standards, wherever applicable.

The Scheme aims to address the following types of disability/infirmity:-

1. Low Vision;
2. Hearing impairment;
3. Loss of teeth; and
4. Locomotor disability

The Scheme proposes to provide the following Aids and Assisted-Living

Devices to eligible elderly beneficiaries, depending upon their physical
impairment:-

1. Generic Items:-
a) Walking sticks
b) Elbow crutches
c) Walkers / Crutches
d) Tripods / Quadpods
e) Hearing Aids
f) Artificial Dentures
g) Spectacles

2. Special Items:
a) Wheelchairs
b) Wheel Chairs with Commode
c) Chair/Stool with Commode
d) Silicon Foam Cushion
e) Knee Brace
f) Spinal Support
g) Cervical Collar
h) Lumbosacral Belt (LS)
i) Walker/Roalator with Brakes
j) Walking Stick with Seat
k) Foot Care Kit:-
i. Flexi Gel Socks
ii. Socks Cusion Sandal
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 iii. Silicon Insole (Complete Foot/Ankle)
iv. Insole with Pressure Point Relief.

The Scheme will be fully financed (100% funded) by the Central Government
from 'Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund'.

Expectations from the state:

1. In each of the State/UT, the Social Welfare Department of the State or

the Department dealing with the matters relating to welfare of Senior
Citizens or Department so nominated by the State Government will serve
as the nodal Department for this Scheme.
2. The State Government/UT Administration/District Level Committee may
utilise the data of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the
NSAP or any other Scheme of the State/UT for identification of senior
citizens belonging to BPL category.
3. The State Governments/UT Administrations shall ensure wide publicity to
the Scheme so that adequate awareness is created among the potential
beneficiaries and their families as well as the general public about the
existence of the Scheme and the benefits available under it.

Expectations from the District:

1. The Scheme will be implemented by the ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing

Corporation (ALIMCO)’, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment. Beneficiaries in each district will be
identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations through the
Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.
2. The Central Government shall notify the composition of a Committee at
District level for the purpose of selection of the beneficiaries,
implementation and monitoring of the Scheme. The Committee shall be
chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/Collector of the District, with the
district Chief Medical Officer (CMO); District Social Welfare Officer or
Joint Director/Deputy Director (Social Welfare)/Joint Director or
equivalent at the District level handling the matters relating to senior
citizens, Joint Director or equivalent at the District level in the Department
of Women & Child Development and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of the Zilla Parishad as member. In the case of urban areas, the
concerned Municipal Commissioner would be a member of the
Committee.

77
Plan Division
Name of the Scheme/ Project

5.1 PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta

Sampann Hitgrahi)
PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Yojana
is a National Action Plan for skilling of marginalized persons covering SCs,
OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, Sanitation workers including waste pickers.

Objectives

To improve all-round competency & adeptness of 2.7 lakh persons, over the
next 5 years, beginning with nearly 0.5 lakh youth in the first year i.e. 2021-22,
from the following sections of the target group:

Artisans–may be able to improve their revenue generation capacities within

their practicing vocations,
Women - may be able to enter into self-employment thereby financially
empowering themselves without neglecting their domestic activities; and
Youth from the target groups - may acquire long-term training and
specialization in employable vocations giving them better standing in the job
market.

Types of Skilling Programmes

Up Skilling/ Reskilling
The training for rural artisans, domestic workers, sanitation workers etc. on the
vocation of practice, such as pottery, weaving, carpentry, waste segregation,
domestic workers, etc. along with financial and digital literacy.
Duration: 32 to 80 hours and spaced over up to one month.
Training cost will be limited to the extent of Common Cost Norms, besides
Rs.2,500/- to trainees towards compensation of wage loss.

Short term trainings

Various job roles as per National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)/
National Occupational Standard (NOS), issued by MSDE.
Focus on wage/self-employment opportunities such as self-employed tailors
training, furniture making, food processing, etc. along with financial and digital
literacy.
Duration: Normally 200 hours to 600 hours and upto6 months, as stipulated in
National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs (QPs).
78
Training cost will be limited to the extent of Common Cost Norms, besides
stipend to trainees in case of non-residential training.

Entrepreneurship Development programmes

SC and OBC youth who have preferably undergone skill training under the
PMKVY and are having an entrepreneurial bent of mind.
Curriculum to be modelled on the programmes of MoRD being implemented by
the RSETIs. To be conducted by RSETIs, NIESBUD, IIE and other similar
organizations.
Sessions on Business Opportunity Guidance, Market Survey, Working Capital
and its Management, Business Plan Preparation etc.
Duration: Normally 80-90 hours (10-15 days) or as stipulated by MoRD.
Training cost as per norms of MoRD/Common Cost Norms (CCN).

Long term Courses

Long Term Training in sectors having good demand in the job market for wage-
placement of trained candidates.
Training programmes will be as per NSQF, NCVT, AICTE, MSME etc. in areas
such as production technology, plastic processing, apparel technology, health
care sector, etc.
Duration: 5 months and above and usually up-to 1 year (upto 1000 hours), as
stipulated by the concerned board/regulatory body of the training centre.
Training cost as per CCN or as stipulated by concerned Board besides stipend
for non-residential programmes.

Key Features of the Scheme

 Training free of cost for the trainees, 100% grants by the Government.
 Stipend of Rs.1,000/- to Rs.1,500/- per month per trainee for trainees
having 80% and above attendance in short term and long term training.
 Wage compensation @ Rs.3000/- per trainee (Rs.2500/- as per PM-
DAKSH and Rs.500/- as per Common Cost Norms for trainees having
80% and above attendance in Reskilling/Up-skilling.
 Trained candidates will be provided certification after successful
completion of training and assessment.
 Trained candidates will be provided placement after assessment and
certification.

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 5.2 Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual
Scavengers (SRMS)
1. DEFINITIONS:
a) Manual Scavenger and Manual Scavenging: “manual scavenger”
means a person engaged or employed, at the commencement of this
Act or at any time thereafter, by an individual or a local authority or an
agency or a contractor, for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or
otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine
or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the
insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on railway track or in such other
spaces or premises, as the Central Government or a State Government
may notify, before the excreta fully decomposes and the expression
“manual scavenging” shall be construed accordingly.
b) Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer/ Septic Tank: hazardous cleaning” by
an employee, in relation to a sewer or septic tank, means its manual
cleaning by such employee without the employer fulfilling his obligations
to provide protective gear (as defined in MS Rule, 2013) and other
cleaning devices and ensuring observance of safety precautions, as may
be prescribed or provided in any other law, for the time being in force or
rules made thereunder;
c) Family and Dependent are defined for all rehabilitation measures,
as under:
i. One Time Cash Assistance (OTCA): Only one member of the
family is eligible for OTCA payment. However, if children (male or
female) above 18 years of age, belonging to the same family are
also eligible for OTCA payment as a separate family unit.
ii. Skill Development Training Programme (SDTP)/Loan Scheme:
All manual scavengers who are willing and their dependents who
are above 18 years of age are eligible for skill training and loan.
iii. Insurance: Family for the purpose of health insurance coverage
would be the same as adopted under PM-JAY for other families.
iv. Dependent: The dependent of manual scavengers is one who is
a member of their family or is dependent on them. Each individual
manual scavenger and his/her spouse or children who are at the
age of 18 years and above, who are not employed will be provided
rehabilitation benefits (skilling and extension of loan facility).
v. Sanitation Workers/Safai Karmacharis and their dependents:
“Sanitation Worker” means a person, engaged in or employed for
any sanitation work and includes waste pickers and also those
persons who were engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and
septic tank, but excludes domestic workers.

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2. Rehabilitation Benefits:

a) Identified manual scavengers, one from each family, (as defined in para
2.3.1) would be eligible for One Time Cash Assistance (OTCA) of Rs.
40,000/- or any such amount as OTCA as revised from time to time.
b) Subject to the eligibility criteria of the training Programme, the manual
scavenger and the dependents (as defined in para 2.3.2) shall be
provided, free of cost, skill training of their choice from the list of such
trainings organized by the National Safai Karmacharis Finance and
Development Corporation (NSKFDC) from time to time . A monthly
stipend of Rs. 3000/-( Rupees three thousand only) or any such amount
as may be decided from time to time to shall be remitted by NSKFDC
directly into the trainee’s bank account at the as per training programme
for the entire training period subject to fulfilling the minimum attendance
(i.e. not less than 75%) and other terms and conditions as prescribed in
the training programme.
c) The existing schemes of various other Ministries etc., like Ministry of Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship, Labour and Employment, District
Rural Development Agency, District Industries Centers Rural Self
Employment Training Institute (RSETI), National Urban Livelihood
Mission (NULM), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) etc., for
imparting training, would be optimally used for training of beneficiaries.
In Addition, the National and State specific Training Frameworks
prepared under SRMS , for training of beneficiaries, would be the
guiding document for selection of training programmes for each
beneficiary. Identified manual scavengers may be given first priority in
all skill development training programmes of Central/State Authorities.
d) After training, beneficiaries shall be provided assistance in the
preparation and submission of self-employment proposals for obtaining
loans from the financial institutions. District Level Authority should be
made responsible for the same.
e) IEC campaigns including awareness camps shall be organised by
NSKFDC from time to time to create awareness among the target group
about the training programmes and other benefits available for them.
f) Loans upto a maximum project cost of Rs. 15 lakhs will be admissible to
identify manual scavengers and their dependents under the scheme.
However, for projects of Self Help Groups/ groups, the maximum project
cost shall be limited to Rs. 50 lakh. The project would include general
projects as well as sanitation related projects. For sanitation related
projects, apart from manual scavengers, sanitation workers and their
dependents (as defined in para no. 2.4) would also be eligible for
assistance under the Scheme.
g) The beneficiaries have the option to select any viable income generating
self-employment project. Projects would not be imposed on the
81
 beneficiaries, rather their interest, experience and choice would be given
due weightage in selection of projects.
h) The period of repayment of loan, including moratorium period will be five
years for projects upto Rs. 5,00,000 and 7 years for projects above Rs.
5,00,000 with a moratorium period to start the repayment of loan will be
upto 6 months.

The rate of interest chargeable from the beneficiaries will be as follows:-

a) For projects upto Rs. 100000 /- - 5% per annum (4% per annum for
women beneficiaries)
b) For projects above Rs 100000/- - 6% per annum.

3. Where the rate of interest chargeable by the banks on loans will be higher
than the rates prescribed in the scheme, interest subsidy to the extent of the
difference will be given to the banks by the respective State Channelising
Agencies (SCAs)/ or NSKFDC. The SCAs/NSKFDC would be required to pay
this amount to banks on a monthly basis so that there is no case of charging
compound interest by banks on the interest subsidy portion.

4. Credit linked up front capital subsidy will be provided to the beneficiaries in

a scaled manner, as follows:

Range of Project Cost (Rs.) Rate of Subsidy

For individuals

Upto Rs. 5,00,000 50% of project cost

5,00,000 to 15,00,000 Rs. 2.5 lakh + 25% of remaining project cost

For Group Projects:

Upto Rs. 10,00,000 lakh per Same as admissible to individuals subject to

beneficiary maximum maximum Rs. 3.75 lakh per beneficiary
project cost upto Rs.
50,00,000

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Beneficiaries of loans who have successfully repaid earlier loans are eligible
for loans subsequently. Lending agencies would issue loan passbooks to
beneficiaries. These passbooks should, inter alia, contain details such as the
date of sanction of loan, amount of loan sanctioned, amount of capital subsidy,
rate of interest, amount due under each installment, due dates of installments,
etc. and details such as address, Aadhar Card and PAN Card details of the
beneficiaries.

NSKFDC shall organize from time to time short term behavior training at
centers near the habitats / work place of sanitation workers to make them
aware about:-
a. Safe and Healthy cleaning practices
b. Provisions of the MS Act, 2013 and the Rules framed thereunder
Digital literacy
c. Personality Development and personal Hygiene
d. Social Behaviour etc.
e. Visual training of mechanised cleaning of sewer septic tanks with
protective gears

NSKFDC shall organize Workshops in the municipalities / Urban Local Bodies

at mutually decided place and time schedule to sensitize the Sanitation
Workers, Officers, Engineers, Sanitary Inspectors, Supervisors, and
Contractors for cleaning of sewer and septic tanks, them about safe and
mechanised cleaning and safety norms prescribed under any Act, Rules or
Standard Operating Procedure/ Guidelines.

Identified manual scavengers and their families shall be provided Health

Insurance cover under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as per the norms and definition of family (as all do find in
para 2.3) for a further period of 5 years w.e.f. 01.04.2021. SRMS scheme shall
be implemented at the national level through the NSKFDC or other identified
agencies as may be decided by the Government for this purpose from time to
time. At the State level, the implementing agencies will be the state
channelising agencies and Banks which are MoA partners or any other agency
notified by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

In the course of implementation of the scheme, there would be a need to take

timely decisions on several important aspects. To facilitate implementation and
timely decisions on critical issues, a special mechanism is envisaged. A
committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment shall be constituted with the following composition:-

a) Additional Secretary Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment –

Member

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 b) Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment - Member
c) Joint Secretary/Economic Advisor, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment – Convener
d) Advisor concerned in the Planning Commission – Member
e) Joint Secretary Level Representative of Department of Financial
Services- Member

The committee can call special invitees, if felt necessary, to attend its meeting.
The recommendations of the committee would be within the broad parameters
of the scheme and would be implemented with the approval of the Minister,
Social Justice and Empowerment.

D/o Financial Services, M/o Finance may take necessary action for issuance
of advisories to the Reserve Bank of India for issuing directions to the all
concerned Banks for providing loans to manual scavengers and their
dependents (as defined para no. 2.3) and also sanitation workers (as defined
in para no. 2.4). The Banks also be advised for time bound disposal of loan
applications within a period of three month from receipt of application. If not
possible they may intimate the reason in writing to the NSKFDC through E-
mail.

NSKFDC will convey to the State Channelizing Agencies/Banks, State/District

wise annual targets of number of beneficiaries to be covered under project
finance. The SCAs will take up with the State Level Bankers Committees
(SLBCs) to fix annual targets of each bank. Progress of beneficiaries covered
under SRMS would be reviewed by SLBCs on quarterly basis and review
reports will be shared with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
RBI and the SCAs.
In order to promote mechanized cleaning and related sanitation projects by the
identified Manual Scavengers, Safai Karmacharis and their dependents, Urban
Local Bodies (ULBs) would be asked to provide mechanized cleaning
contracts to them and also issue job guarantee to concerned
banks. Arrangements would be made for hand holding of the target group
through reputed NGOs and other agencies for providing capacity building
support to the beneficiaries in taking up suitable self-employment ventures and
liasoning with related agencies for availing loans and setting up the self-
enterprise. Loans extended by Banks to the target group will be covered under
relevant credit guarantee mechanisms.

The complaints regarding diversion of funds by beneficiaries for their other

needs, the banks shall deal as per the lending policy of the Banks/ Financial
Institutions in this regard. In addition, such beneficiary shall also be liable to
repay the entire amount of subsidy immediately with a penal interest of 9% per
annum and shall be ineligible for any future assistance under the scheme. The
84
SCAs/Banks shall act as coordinators between the beneficiaries and the
banks/ financial institutions and ensure timely disbursement and recovery of
loans. District level Vigilance Committees set up under the ‘Prohibition of
Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 shall
monitor the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their dependents under
their jurisdiction.

In order to ensure real-time monitoring of the implementation of the Scheme,

an interactive website would be created and made operational at district/State
and National level. The software shall ensure feeding relating to real time data
of beneficiaries and each benefit provided to them. The entire process of
receiving and processing of documentation for availing different benefits under
the scheme shall be made online.

Grievance Portal may be launched by NSKFDC as a helpline to facilitate the

beneficiaries to send their queries/grievances. Timely disposal of grievances
shall be ensured by NSKFDC. SKFDC shall provide Quarterly progress reports
regarding implementation of the Scheme to the Department of Social Justice
and Empowerment and also upload the same on its website.

The scheme will be concurrently evaluated by an independent agency at the

end of every two years period starting from 2022-23 to assess the impact of
the Scheme in the rehabilitation of the target group of the Scheme.

Expectations from the State:

a) ULBSs should provide a list of equipment they want for machination

b) List of Sanitation Workers/Safai Karmacharis through ULBs for

machine loans

List of Identified manual scavengers, one from each family would be eligible for
One Time Cash Assistance (OTCA) of Rs. 40,000/-

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 Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Government of India

[Link]