SMILE Scheme

The SMILE scheme has rehabilitated over 10,200 persons engaged in begging across 216 cities in India.

What is the SMILE Scheme?

• SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.

• It is an umbrella programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

• It is a central sector scheme.

• It aims to realise the vision of a "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat," or a Begging-Free India.

Approach

• It follows a convergence-based approach, bringing together multiple levels and arms of government.

• Stakeholders involved include the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, district administrations, urban local bodies, municipal corporations, and various implementing agencies.

Coverage and Targets

• The scheme has so far rehabilitated more than 10,200 persons engaged in begging.

• This rehabilitation has taken place across 216 cities.

• The target is to expand coverage to 295 cities by the financial year 2030–31.

• Special focus is being placed on metropolitan centres, along with religious, tourist, and historical destinations.

Components of the Larger Scheme

• The Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.

• The Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging.

• Together, these two component schemes provide comprehensive welfare and rehabilitation measures to the transgender community and to persons engaged in begging.

SMILE-Beggary National Portal

• The Ministry has introduced this portal to strengthen implementation and transparency.

• It enables digital registration of beneficiaries and rehabilitation efforts.

• It allows monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and shelter homes.

Conclusion

The SMILE scheme reflects a shift in India's approach to two historically marginalised groups, persons engaged in begging and the transgender community, by bringing their welfare under a single, convergence-driven umbrella rather than treating them through fragmented, standalone efforts. By involving every tier of government, from the Centre down to urban local bodies and municipal corporations, the scheme is designed to ensure that rehabilitation is not just a policy on paper but is implemented consistently across cities. The introduction of the SMILE-Beggary National Portal adds a layer of digital accountability, allowing the government to track shelter homes and rehabilitation centres in real time rather than relying on periodic manual reporting. With over 10,200 persons already rehabilitated across 216 cities and an ambitious target of 295 cities by 2030–31, the scheme signals a long-term, phased commitment rather than a short-term relief measure. For examination purposes, the key points to remember are the scheme's full form, its central sector and convergence-based nature, its "Begging-Free India" vision, its two component schemes covering beggary and transgender welfare, and the role of the SMILE-Beggary National Portal in monitoring implementation.