Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes a sub-scheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on. Persons engaged in the act of Begging are to be covered under the scheme. Total funds allocated for the scheme for next five years, are attached in Annexure. Scheme is to be implemented on pan-India basis.
Ministry had identified 10 cities for undertaking pilot project on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging. Currently, pilot project is ongoing in 7 cities namely Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna. These pilots are being implemented with the support of State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies and Voluntary Organizations etc., which provide comprehensive measures including survey and identification, mobilization, rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, awareness generation, counseling, education, skill development and sustainable settlement of persons engaged in begging. However, due to COVID pandemic, project couldn’t start in three cities.
A Meeting was held on 14.01.2020 with some of the NGOs/Experts/States working in the field of beggary for Comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging. After the discussion, Ministry had initiated pilot project on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.
Total funds allocated for SMILE scheme are attached in Annexure.
| Serial No. | Year | Funds Allocated (Rs. in Cr.) |
| 1 | 2021-22 | 10.00 |
| 2 | 2022-23 | 15.00 |
| 3 | 2023-24 | 20.00 |
| 4 | 2024-25 | 25.00 |
| 5 | 2025-26 | 30.00 |
| Total | 100.00 |
This information was given by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr.Virendra Kumar in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.
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