Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes a sub-scheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on. Persons engaged in the act of Begging are to be covered under the scheme.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has initiated pilot projects on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging in seven cities of the country including Delhi, Patna, Nagpur, Indore, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Lucknow. These pilots are being implemented in these cities by State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies and Voluntary Organizations. Several comprehensive measures including survey and identification, mobilization, basic hygiene and medical facilities, providing basic documentation, counseling, rehabilitation, education, skill development and sustainable settlement of persons engaged in begging are undertaken under these pilots. Details of funds allocated under this pilot project are attached in Annexure.
Annexure
|
Sl No.
|
City Name
|
Total funds allocated
(Rs. in crore)
|
|
1
|
Delhi
|
6.0
|
|
2
|
Bengaluru
|
4.0
|
|
3
|
Nagpur
|
4.0
|
|
4
|
Hyderabad
|
4.0
|
|
5
|
Indore
|
3.0
|
|
6
|
Patna
|
3.0
|
|
7
|
Lucknow
|
3.0
|
|
Total
|
27.0
|
This information was given by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr.Virendra Kumar in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.
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MG/RNM