The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes sub scheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. The focus of the scheme is on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages of the persons found to be engaged in begging.

Financial targets under this Scheme, for the next five years, are attached in Annexure.

Ministry has released an amount of Rs. 1.50 crore to National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) for conducting skill development programmes for the persons engaged in begging. So far, 514 persons engaged in Begging have been provided skill development training.

Annexure

This information was given by The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri. A. Narayanaswamy in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.

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MG/IA