Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, or PMJVK, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the ministry of minority affairs aimed at improving socio-economic conditions in minority concentration areas. The scheme addresses development deficits in education, health and basic amenities by creating durable community infrastructure, with the goal of bringing these areas at par with national averages.Infrastructure firstPMJVK funds construction across education, health, skill development, women and child welfare, sports, sanitation and urban development. Schools, hostels, computer labs, dispensaries, ITIs, working women hostels and sports facilities all qualify. At least 80 percent of resources must go toward education, health and skill development. Projects are sanctioned in areas where minority population exceeds 25 percent within a 15 km catchment radius.How it worksNo fixed state-wise allocation is made in advance. State governments submit proposals through Block, District and State Level Committees, approved by an Empowered Committee at the Ministry. Funding follows a 60:40 pattern between Centre and State. Land is provided free of cost by the state; recurring maintenance is the state’s responsibility post-completion.Who benefits?PMJVK does not work through individual applications. Every resident of a notified minority concentration area benefits from infrastructure built under the scheme, regardless of community. The six notified minority communities are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis.Track and monitorAll assets are geo-tagged through the PMJVK Bhuvan app by ISRO, with real-time photographs and coordinates for public monitoring. Project sanctions and fund releases are available at pmjvk.minorityaffairs.gov.in.How far it has reachedRestructured in 2018 from the Multi-sectoral Development Programme that began in 2008-09, PMJVK now covers every district in the country under revised guidelines effective from 2022-23.In Uttar Pradesh alone, over Rs 364 crore in projects have been approved across education, health, skill development, sports, women and child welfare, and urban development. The scheme does not move people. It moves opportunities closer to where people already are..
