Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated an Umbrella Scheme/Central Sector Scheme Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) which includes subscheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging. The sub-scheme Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging with focus extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, education, skill development through an effective convergence approach for sustainable development of targeted groups. The sub-scheme will be implemented with the support State/UT Governments, District Administration, Urban Local Bodies/Municipal Corporations and other organisations/ agencies working in the field of prevention of beggary, the scheme will be implemented across the country.

Overall objective of the sub-scheme is to make the country BhikshaVrittiMukt Bharat and make a strategy for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging through coordinated action and convergence with various stakeholders such as Central and State/UT Governments, District Administration, Urban Local Bodies/Municipal Corporations and other stakeholders working in the field and public at large so as to ensure the beggars reintegration in the mainstream society to lead a life with dignity and self confidence.