SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise

SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise

Subject: Science and Technology

Context: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes subschema – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.

Concept:

• A scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” formulated which includes sub scheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
• Focus of the scheme is on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages etc.
• Pilot projects initiated on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging in ten cities namely Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna and Ahmadabad.
• This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. The scheme would be implemented with the support of State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) institutions and others.
• Scheme provides for the use of the shelter homes available with the State/UT Governments and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
• In case of non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to be set up by the implementing agencies. Under this Scheme, funds allocated for the next five years