Scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary and other Organizations Working for Scheduled Castes
This Ministry of Social Justice scheme funds NGOs and voluntary organizations running schools, hostels, health centers, vocational training, and legal aid services for Scheduled Caste communities in service-deficient areas. Grants cover staff salaries, infrastructure, and beneficiary support costs. Apply through your State Social Welfare Department, which forwards recommendations to the Ministry by April 30 each year.
About This Scheme
This Ministry of Social Justice scheme funds NGOs and voluntary organizations running schools, hostels, health centers, vocational training, and legal aid services for Scheduled Caste communities in service-deficient areas. Grants cover staff salaries, infrastructure, and beneficiary support costs. Apply through your State Social Welfare Department, which forwards recommendations to the Ministry by April 30 each year.
Full official description
The prime objective of the "Scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary and other Organizations Working for Scheduled Castes" by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, is to enhance the reach of development interventions of the Government and fill the gaps in service-deficient Scheduled Caste dominant areas in sectors such as education, health, vocational training, etc., through the efforts of voluntary organizations and other organizations. This aims to provide an environment for the socio-economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Any other innovative activity with a direct impact on the socio-economic development or livelihood generation of SCs may also be considered through voluntary efforts.
Benefits
- Grants for hostels, residential schools, ITIs, and arts/crafts centers for SC students
- IT training fee support at reputed institutions selected by the Ministry
- Healthcare: grants for hospitals or mobile dispensaries; up to ₹10,000/month for specialist visits
- Childcare services: running balwadis and creches for SC children
- Coaching centers for entrance exams and competitive examinations not covered by other schemes
- Legal aid, human rights, and consumer rights awareness and grievance redressal support
- NGO capacity building and management training
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be registered under Societies Registration Act 1860, as a public trust, or as a charitable company
- Must have been registered for at least 3 years (can be waived in exceptional cases)
- At least 60% of beneficiaries served must be from Scheduled Caste communities
- Must not be operating for profit
- Must have at least 2 years of experience in relevant social welfare work
- Projects should be located in Educationally Backward Blocks, SC-dominant service-deficient areas, or Planning Commission-identified backward districts
How to Apply
Step 1: Application Preparation
The organization shall submit the application in the prescribed format (Application-cum-Monitoring Form) following the procedure and guidelines provided by the Ministry.
Step 2: Submission Timing
Applications, for both ongoing and new cases, should be submitted by the organization to the Social Welfare Department or the department responsible for Scheduled Castes matters in the State/UT, preferably in the first quarter of the relevant financial year.
Step 3: State Committee Review
The State Government (State Social Welfare Department or the department dealing with Scheduled Caste matters) will verify the organization's genuineness and the project at the field level. Proposals are then presented before the multidisciplinary "State Grant-in-aid Committee" (State Committee).
Step 4: Recommendations to the Ministry
The State Committee forwards its recommendations to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment by 30th April. The State Committee must provide reasons for recommending or rejecting the proposals.
Step 5: Inspection Report
If proposals or recommendations from the State Governments/UTs are not received within a reasonable period, the Ministry may obtain an inspection report from the National Scheduled Caste Finance Development Corporation (NSCFDC)/National Safai Karmachari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC)/Ambedkar Chairs under Dr. Ambedkar Foundation nearby or by deputing a suitable officer from the ministry for inspection.
Step 6: Ministry's Acceptance
No application will be accepted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment directly. All applications must be recommended by the State Committee or following the prescribed procedure.
Step 7: Document Submission
State Government/UT Administrations, while forwarding the recommendations of the State Committee and the proposals of VOs/NGOs, should submit the required documents as per the provided checklist and Time Schedule, which is uploaded on the website.
Step 8: Evaluation of Proposals
The Ministry evaluates the received proposals and recommendations.
Step 9: Fund Transfer Procedures
The Ministry follows procedures to issue a sanction order, transfer funds, and handle internal fund transfers.
Step 10: Fund Allocation
Funds are allocated based on the accepted proposals and recommendations to facilitate projects related to Scheduled Castes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of maintaining a Register of Assets, and what items are included in this register?
The Register of Assets includes permanent assets like machinery and equipment costing Rs. 10,000 or more. It is maintained to track such assets' value, life, and acquisition cost.
How are organizations' accounts monitored, and what is the scope of the audit process?
Accounts are subject to inspection by government-appointed officers and may be subject to test checks by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Is there an agreement bond that organizations must sign when receiving grants, and what are the implications of this bond?
Organizations must execute an Agreement Bond committing them to comply with conditions in the sanction letter. Failure to do so may result in the need to refund the grant with interest as determined by the Government.
What documents are required to be regularly submitted by organizations receiving grants, and at what intervals?
Organizations receiving grants must submit quarterly progress reports in July, October, January, and April. These reports provide performance data for the relevant periods.
How are funds allocated, and what is the timeline for the submission of applications by organizations?
Funds are allocated based on approved proposals and recommendations. Applications should be submitted to State Committees in the first quarter of the financial year for consideration.
What expenses are admissible under this scheme, and how flexible is the list of admissible items?
Admissible expenses include rent, equipment, staff honorarium, stipends, tuition fees, materials, stationery, contingencies, and more. The list is illustrative, and assistance may be provided for any other purpose connected to the scheme's activities.
Could you clarify what is meant by "Related Activities" as mentioned in the scheme's benefits?
"Related Activities" include any initiatives that align with the scheme's objectives for the socio-economic development and livelihood generation of Scheduled Castes.
What healthcare facilities are provided through this scheme, and what is the cost limit for certain services?
The scheme supports medical facilities, including hospitals and mobile dispensaries, with a cost limit of [?]10,000 per month for ten-bedded hospitals, subject to [?]1,000 per visit/day for visiting specialists.
Can you explain the scope of educational initiatives covered by this scheme?
The scheme encompasses various educational initiatives like opening hostels, schools, vocational centers, tuition fee support, and training in Information Technology, specifically at approved institutions.
Who is eligible to apply for grants under this scheme, and what conditions apply to voluntary organizations?
Eligible organizations include those registered under relevant laws, having at least 60% Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, and meeting specified criteria outlined by the Ministry.
In what instances may organizations be required to refund a part of the grant they received?
Organizations may need to refund the grant with interest if they fail to abide by the conditions stipulated in the Agreement Bond.
How is the second instalment released, and what are the requirements for this release?
The second instalment is released upon receiving the audited statement of accounts, a utilization certificate, and an inspection report, along with a recommendation from the State Committee.
How are assets of permanent value, machinery, and equipment tracked by organizations receiving grants?
Organizations maintain a Register of Assets as prescribed under GFR, listing items costing Rs. 10,000 or more and with a life of at least 5 years.
How are funds allocated based on the accepted proposals, and what criteria are considered in this allocation?
Funds are allocated as per approved proposals and recommendations, with considerations like the project's feasibility and alignment with the scheme's objectives.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- The organization receiving grants from the Ministry shall regularly submit quarterly Progress Report in the months of July (for April to June of a financial year), October (for July to September of the same financial year), January (for October to December of the same financial year) and in April (for January to March of the same financial year) in the prescribed format.
- > **For the Release of the First Instalment**
- An application in the prescribed proforma with the required documents.
- Utilisation Certificate of the last released grant in the format prescribed under GFR-19A. Audited/Unaudited accounts for the previous year, indicating the expenditure incurred on each sanctioned item in comparison to the grant sanctioned.
- Budget Estimates for the financial year for which grant-in-aid is required.
- Annual Report providing performance data of the projects during the previous year. This condition does not apply to new proposals.
- > **For the Release of the Second Instalment**
- The second instalment will be released upon receipt of the audited statement of accounts, along with a utilization certificate, and an inspection report from the prescribed agency, accompanied by a recommendation from the Grant-in-Aid Committee of the State Government/UT Administration.
- > **Agreement Bond**
- The grant-in-aid will be released after the grantee organization executes an Agreement Bond in the prescribed proforma.
- > **Maintenance of Separate Accounts**
- Distinct accounts for the grants received.
- > **Register of Assets**
- A Register of Assets in the proforma prescribed under GFR. This register should include all assets of permanent value, machinery, and equipment with a life of not less than 5 years and costing Rs. 10,000 and above (each item).
- > **Submission of Audited Accounts**
- At the end of the financial year, an aided organization will provide audited statements of accounts along with a utilization certificate for all expenditures incurred.
- > **Statement of Equipment/Machinery**
- A statement in the prescribed proforma under GFR, detailing the equipment and machinery purchased, including their prices, out of the grant-in-aid received.