SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme

SMILE Scheme Latest News

Reasi is poised to become the second district in Jammu and Kashmir, after Srinagar, to implement the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme.

About SMILE Scheme

• It is a multi-faceted initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It has a total allocation of ₹365 crore covering 2021-22 to 2025-26. This scheme will be implemented across the country.
• It includes two central sector sub-schemes that focus on the comprehensive rehabilitation of transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging.

Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons

• It provides support through scholarships for students from Class IX to post-graduation, skill development opportunities through the PM-DAKSH scheme, and financial assistance for gender-reaffirmation surgeries under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
• Additionally, ‘Garima Greh’ (shelter homes) offer transgender persons accommodation, medical care, and skill development, creating safe spaces for their growth and empowerment. 
• The establishment of Transgender Protection Cells in each state ensures that offences against transgender persons are properly registered, investigated, and prosecuted, providing them with necessary legal protection.

Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging

• It addresses the needs of this marginalized group through a structured approach encompassing four key areas: Survey and Identification, Mobilization, Shelter Homes and Rehabilitation. 
• Surveys are conducted to identify beneficiaries and create a national database, which is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Mobilization involves outreach and awareness campaigns to encourage individuals engaged in begging to utilise the services offered by the government. 
• Shelter homes provide basic services such as food, clothing, medical facilities and education for children, alongside counselling and psychological support. 
• Rehabilitation is achieved through skill development and vocational training, helping these individuals transition into wage or self-employment, thus paving the way for their social reintegration and economic independence.

SMILE-75 Initiative

• The SMILE-75 initiative was launched to extend the benefits of the SMILE scheme to 75 municipal corporations and municipalities across the country. 
• This initiative, which commenced in FY 2023-24, has a budget allocation of ₹100 crore spread over five years.
• The cities targeted include metropolitan areas, pilgrimage sites, cultural and tourist destinations, aspirational districts, and cities in the Northeast, ensuring a wide geographical spread.

Source: HT