The inception of the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) sub-scheme “Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging” that is 23.10.2023, a total of 31,055 persons have been identified as engaged in the act of begging, out of which 9,855 persons have been rescued and rehabilitated under the sub-scheme, which includes 2,480 children. The State/UT-wise details are placed at Annexure-I.

The SMILE sub-scheme is implemented through the Implementing Authorities (IAs) namely District Administration/ Urban Local Bodies/ Municipal Corporations and other agencies working in the field of beggary prevention. As per the sub-scheme guidelines, the Implementing Authority appoints/ selects the Implementing Agency/Non-Government Organisation (NGO) through a prescribed selection process. Since the scheme is being implemented through IAs, requests for rehabilitation are not received in the Ministry as all rescued persons are provided comprehensive rehabilitation as per their willingness/interest and in line with different provisions of the scheme guidelines.

Under the SMILE sub-scheme, beneficiaries are provided skill development and livelihood opportunities through a convergence approach with various Central and State Government programmes. All eligible persons have been provided skill training based on local demand and aptitude in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, cooking, gardening, security services, sanitation work, e-rickshaw driving and other vocational activities. Formation of community / Self Help Groups (SHGs) and establishing linkages with banks for financial assistance for income generation activities are also supported under the sub-scheme. Details are placed in Annexure-I.

Under the sub-scheme, identification of beneficiaries, providing shelter, counselling and skill development / vocational training are linked to appropriate welfare and livelihood schemes through convergence with other Central and State Government programmes. Hence, data for current employability or livelihood status of rehabilitated beneficiaries are not maintained in the department.

Further, in order to ensure effective rehabilitation, sustainable livelihood, and prevention of relapse into begging; vocational training and skill development based on locally demanding wage employment/livelihoods are provided to facilitate employment or self-employment, and follow-up action is carried out for long-term reintegration and sustainable rehabilitation.

Annexure – I

State/UT-wise list of Survey/Identification and Rehabilitation

S. No.	States/UTs	Survey/ Identification Total	Rescue and Rehabilitation Total	Wage Employment	Self-employment
1	Andhra Pradesh	2569	653	400	50
2	Arunachal Pradesh	140	99	80	0
3	Assam	1840	605	116	263
4	Bihar	476	375	198	62
5	Chandigarh (UT)	499	352	198	20
6	Delhi NCT	3318	372	186	50
7	Gujarat	1141	453	195	75
8	Himachal Pradesh	27	1	1	0
9	J & K	1143	510	166	8
10	Karnataka	875	88	40	26
11	Kerala	674	178	93	20
12	Madhya Pradesh	1772	1291	357	208
13	Maharashtra	1601	1025	244	80
14	Manipur	64	0	0	0
15	Mizoram	16	0	0	0
16	Nagaland	107	22	22	0
17	Odisha	784	288	78	100
18	Puducherry	485	178	8	73
19	Punjab	128	6	6	0
20	Rajasthan	79	0	0	0
21	Tamil Nadu	9145	1590	357	298
22	Telangana	580	53	53	0
23	Uttar Pradesh	3592	1716	1223	223
Total		31055	9855	4021	1556

The total number of persons rehabilitated under the sub-scheme also includes children who have been re-associated with their families or produced before the Child Welfare Committees. It also includes persons rehabilitated through convergence with other Central and State Government schemes by linking to services such as Old Age Homes, De-addiction Centres, and other appropriate care and support institutions. All other persons receive vocational /Skill training and are facilitated to take some wage-employment or self-employment.

This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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