The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, Govt of NCT of Delhi, will organise a programme titled ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat – Advancing Towards a Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Delhi’ on Wednesday October 14,  at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC)  in the National Capital here.

The programme is part of the Central Government’s commitment to the vision of ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’, aligned with the broader national aspirations of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @2047.

Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, will attend the programme as the Chief Guest, while Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, will participate as the Special Guest. Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will also be present.

The programme will bring together representatives of the Central and State Governments, district administrations, urban local bodies, implementing agencies, civil society organisations and beneficiaries to discuss implementation experiences, share best practices and explore the way forward for sustainable rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons engaged in begging.

An official of the Ministry stated that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the SMILE–Beggary Scheme to facilitate the comprehensive rehabilitation, socio-economic empowerment and social reintegration of persons engaged in begging.

The Official further said the Scheme is currently being implemented in 216 cities across 33 States and Union Territories, with a focus on restoring dignity, promoting self-reliance and enabling sustainable social and economic reintegration. To date, 45,073 persons have been identified under the Scheme, out of which 13,134 have received rehabilitation support, the official added.

The official emphasised that the Scheme goes beyond merely removing persons from the streets and adopts a holistic, rehabilitation-oriented approach to address the underlying vulnerabilities that lead to begging. The interventions encompass identification and profiling, rescue and outreach, counselling, shelter and essential services, healthcare, education, skill development, livelihood support and convergence with social security schemes.

To strengthen implementation and ensure measurable outcomes, the Ministry has introduced several reforms. These include a mobile application for comprehensive surveys and profiling of persons engaged in begging, along with a portal for digital monitoring; model guidelines for transforming beggars’ homes into dignified rehabilitation and care facilities in accordance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court; and a Begging-Free City Framework with clearly defined and measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Other key measures include convergence with social security and social welfare schemes to facilitate access to entitlements and essential services, as well as performance-based incentives to encourage cities to make measurable progress towards achieving Begging-Free status. Collectively, these initiatives seek to establish an outcome-oriented, accountable and convergence-driven rehabilitation ecosystem.

The official further stated that focused efforts are underway to strengthen rehabilitation services, expand livelihood opportunities, improve access to social security and facilitate sustainable reintegration, thereby advancing Delhi towards the goal of ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Delhi’.

He said Delhi was among the seven cities selected during the pilot phase of the Scheme in FY 2021–22. The Scheme is now operational across all 14 districts/cities of Delhi, reflecting the expansion of efforts towards comprehensive rehabilitation and social reintegration.

During the programme, a large number of beneficiaries identified and supported under the SMILE–Beggary Scheme will be felicitated. They will also be provided with skill-building and rehabilitation kits to support their transition towards self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.

Towards 100 Begging-Free Cities by 2031

To achieve the target of 100 Begging-Free Cities by 2031, the Ministry underscores the importance of coordinated and sustained efforts by the Central and State Governments, urban local bodies, district administrations, non-governmental organisations, voluntary organisations and local communities. Sustainable rehabilitation requires a collective commitment to addressing vulnerabilities, ensuring access to essential services and creating opportunities for dignified and independent living.

Under the SMILE–Beggary Scheme for FY 2026–31, the Government has set an ambitious target of making 100 cities Begging-Free. The strategy is supported by measurable KPIs, digital monitoring, innovation and inter-departmental convergence to strengthen implementation and track progress.

The Delhi programme will reaffirm the collective resolve to accelerate progress towards this national goal. It will highlight how convergence, accountability, compassion and community participation can translate the vision of ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’ into a sustainable reality while advancing Delhi towards becoming ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Delhi’.

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PR-164-TAR/KV/GA/RK

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