A meeting on “Welfare and Rehabilitation of Transgender Persons and Beggars” was held yesterday at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), New Delhi, under the chairpersonship of the Hon’ble Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.

The meeting focused on achieving a beggar-free state in the six major metropolitan cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The implementation is subjected to happen through close collaboration among Municipal Corporations, Urban Local Bodies, State Social Welfare Departments, Central Ministries/Departments and other key stakeholders.

The meeting was attended in hybrid mode by representatives from the Municipal Corporations and State Social Welfare Departments of Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, along with officials from various Central Ministries/Departments and other stakeholders.

During the meeting, the Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, informed that concerns had earlier been raised in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the continued engagement of transgender persons in beggary at traffic signals in major metropolitan cities, despite the enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the Rules, 2020. Keeping in view issues of safety and dignity, it was decided to initially focus on the six identified metropolitan cities with the objective of making them beggar-free.

Key initiatives of the Government were highlighted, including the Equal Opportunity Policy for Transgender Persons (2024), the National Transgender Portal, issuance of Transgender Identity Cards and Ayushman Cards, establishment of Garima Grehs, and implementation of the SMILE Scheme, covering both Transgender and Beggary sub-schemes. The nationwide campaign “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat”, covering 181 cities in its first phase, was also reviewed.

Presentations were made on the implementation status of welfare measures, challenges faced in rehabilitating transgender persons engaged in beggary, and progress under the SMILE (Beggary) Scheme, which is currently being implemented in Delhi and Hyderabad and proposed to be extended to other cities.

The Hon’ble Minister directed States to undertake a one-month intensive drive, in collaboration with NGOs, focusing on skill development, employment and rehabilitation of persons engaged in beggary at traffic signals. He emphasized the need for coordinated and sustained efforts by Central Ministries, State Governments, Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies to ensure a safe, secure and dignified life for vulnerable sections of society. It was also indicated that cities achieving beggar-free status may be incentivized.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards achieving beggar-free cities and promoting the social inclusion and empowerment of transgender persons and beggars.

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