SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment aims to realise the vision of a "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" (Begging-Free India).
About the Scheme
- Type: Central Sector Scheme.
- Objective: Comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging through a dignity-based and livelihood-oriented approach.
- Extent: Operational in 216 cities, with a target to cover 295 cities and rehabilitate 35,000 persons by FY 2030–31.
- Two Sub-Schemes:
- Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
- Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging
- Key Features:
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation: Identification, rescue, shelter, healthcare, counselling and rehabilitation.
- Livelihood Support: Skill development, education and sustainable employment opportunities.
- Social Reintegration: Mainstreaming beneficiaries with dignity and self-reliance.
- Convergence-Based Implementation: Coordination between the Central Government, States/UTs, District Administrations etc. while converging with schemes such as DAY-NULM, NRLM, Mission Vatsalya.
- Digital Monitoring & Transparency: Uses the SMILE-Beggary National Portal for registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and beneficiaries.
Way Ahead
- Address Root Causes: Tackle poverty, homelessness, mental illness, addiction and trafficking.
- Legal deterrence: Ban on begging as well as giving alms in public places, with enforcement against violations.
- Enhance Public Awareness & Monitoring: Promote community participation, discourage organized begging though monitoring.
- Best Practices (Indore): India's first "Beggar-Free City" after a year-long rehabilitation campaign.
