The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is strengthening efforts to rehabilitate persons engaged in begging through the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme, with the initiative currently operational in 216 cities across the country.
According to a senior ministry official, the SMILE Beggary Scheme aims to cover 295 cities by the financial year 2030-31, with a special focus on metropolitan centres as well as religious, tourist and historical destinations. The approved implementation plan for FY 2026-31 sets a rehabilitation target of 35,000 persons, of which more than 10,200 individuals have already been successfully rehabilitated. The remaining beneficiaries will be covered in a phased manner over the next five years.
The SMILE Scheme is an umbrella programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that includes the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging. It seeks to facilitate the social and economic rehabilitation of vulnerable individuals through skill development, education, healthcare, counselling and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The scheme aims to realise the vision of a “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” (Begging-Free India) by adopting a convergence-based approach involving the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, district administrations, urban local bodies, municipal corporations and implementing agencies. The coordinated framework supports the identification, rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of persons engaged in begging into mainstream society with dignity and self-reliance.
To strengthen implementation and transparency, the Ministry has introduced the SMILE-Beggary National Portal, which enables digital registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and shelter homes. The platform is intended to improve oversight and facilitate effective implementation of the scheme.
