The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) on February 12, 2022.
The Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 Crore for the SMILE Scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Target Beneficiaries
The Umbrella scheme is set to provide welfare and rehabilitation to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
Benefits of the SMILE Scheme
- The two sub-schemes of the SMILE scheme – The ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’ and The ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of engaged in the act of Begging’ – provide comprehensive welfare and rehabilitation measures to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
- It provides Scholarships for Transgender Students studying in IX and till post-graduation to enable them to complete their education.
- It has provisions for Skill Development and Livelihood under the PM-DAKSH scheme.
- Composite Medical Health provides a comprehensive package that is in convergence with PM-JAY and supports gender-reaffirmation surgeries through selected hospitals.
- The Housing facility in the form of ‘Garima Greh’ ensures food, clothing, recreational facilities, skill development opportunities, recreational activities, medical support, etc., to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
- The Provision of Transgender Protection Cell in each state will monitor cases of offenses and ensure timely registration, investigation, and prosecution of offenses.
- The National Portal & Helpline will provide necessary information and solutions to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging when needed.
- The sub-scheme – ‘Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’ – will focus on Survey and identification, Mobilisation, Rescue/ Shelter Home, and Comprehensive resettlement.
Status of Beggars In India
- According to the Census 2011, the total number of beggars in India is 4,13,670 (including 2,21,673 males and 1,91,997 females), and the number has increased from the last census.
- West Bengal tops the chart, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and three, respectively. Lakshadweep merely has two vagrants, according to the 2011 census.
- Among the union territories, New Delhi had the largest number of beggars, 2,187, followed by 121 in Chandigarh.
- Among the northeastern states, Asam topped the chart with 22,116 beggars, while Mizoram ranked low with 53 beggars.
- Recently, the Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea for decriminalising begging, which has been made an offence in various states under the Prevention of Begging Act.
National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation
- NBCFDC is a Government of India Undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- It was incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 on 13th January 1992 as a Company not for profit.
- Its objective is to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes and to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures.
National Institute of Social Defence
- The NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi.
- It is a central advisory body for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defense.
- The institute currently focuses on human resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, the welfare of senior citizens, beggary prevention, transgender, and other social defense issues.
- The mandate of the institute is to provide inputs for the social defence programs of the Government of India through training, research & documentation.
