Why in the News?
Under the SMILE scheme, the Union Social Justice Ministry has identified only 9,958 beggars across 81 cities, compared to 3.72 lakh recorded in the 2011 Census.
About the SMILE Scheme:
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SMILE scheme in 2022.
- It is a Central Sector Scheme to rehabilitate individuals engaged in begging and empower transgender persons.
- It focuses on rehabilitation, livelihood opportunities, skill development, and social empowerment for marginalized individuals.
- It combines previous programs targeting beggars and transgender persons, providing a more cohesive approach to their empowerment.
- Key Components:
- Shelter Homes: Utilizes existing shelter homes managed by state/UT governments; new homes will be established where necessary.
- Livelihood Support: Provides education, documentation, skill development, and economic linkages to help individuals become self-sufficient.
- Target Beneficiaries: Around 60,000 marginalized individuals.
- Implementation:
- Pilot project has been launched in 30 cities (Phase 1) and extended to 50 more cities (Phase 2).
- A local survey identifies individuals engaged in begging, aiming to rehabilitate 25 individuals per survey.
- ₹100 crore has been allocated for FY 2023-24 to 2025-26, with ₹14.71 crore spent by December 2024 on identification and rehabilitation.
Issues in Implementation:
- Inadequate Shelter Infrastructure: Some regions face a lack of facilities for rehabilitation.
- Resistance to Rehabilitation: Some individuals resist rehabilitation due to socio-economic factors or distrust in government schemes.
- Funding and Resource Constraints: Ongoing financial investment is required for sustainability.
- Sustainability of Rehabilitation: Long-term support is essential for successful reintegration into society.
| [UPSC 2016] ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to-
(a) rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood* (b) abolish the Child Labour (c) salvage the marshy lands and wetlands in the coastal areas and cultivate crops in them (d) rehabilitate the manual scavengers and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood |
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