Lok Sabha Question No. 1958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: SMILE Scheme in Assam
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## SMILE SCHEME IN ASSAM

## 1958. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the amount of funds allocated and utilised by Assam under the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise Scheme and the number of beneficiaries since the inception of scheme;
- (b) the number of beneficiaries under the scheme and the actual number of beneficiaries, yearwise;
- (c) the transgender population of Assam, the number of Garima Grehs in the state and the number of individuals who have availed their benefits;
- (d) the details regarding the criteria employed while choosing cities to cover under the scheme and whether the Government is considering extending it to Nagaon and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether, at present, the scheme is being implemented in only two states in the North Eastern Region (NER) - Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and if yes, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

- (a) & (b): Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme comprises two sub-schemes namely 'Central sector scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation for welfare of transgender persons' and 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging'.

Under the sub-schemes 'Central sector scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation for welfare of transgender persons' ', Rs.5.02 lakhs have been released to Non-Government Organisation in the State of Assam for setting up of Garima Greh in FY 2024-25 and 25 beneficiaries have benefitted through Garima Greh. In addition, following beneficiaries have obtained Transgender(TG) card and certificates through the National Portal for Transgender:

|   SI. No. | Year                       | No. of Beneficiaries   |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | 2021-22                    | 5                      |
|         2 | 2022-23                    |                        |
|         3 | 2023-24                    | 126                    |
|         4 | 2024-25 (As on 07.03.2025) | 60                     |

•

- Under SMILE sub-scheme 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging', Rs. 61.60 lakh has been allocated and utilised to the State of Assam for implementing the sub-scheme in 4 cities (Hojai/Doboka, Golaghat, Guwahati and Tezpur) of Assam. 138 persons have benefitted/rehabilitated since inception of the sub-scheme (i.e. from 23.10.2023) in Assam.

Year wise data of the beneficiaries in this sub-scheme is as under-

| SI. No.   | Year                       | No. of Beneficiaries   |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------|
|           | 2023-24                    |                        |
| 2         | 2024-25 (As on 07.03.2025) | 138                    |

- (c): As per census 2011, total population of 'others' in the state of Assam is 11,374. One Garima Greh has been setup in Kamrup (M) district of Assam and 25 transgender persons have availed its benefits.
- (d): Under SMILE sub-scheme 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging', currently the cities selected under the Scheme are religious, historical and of tourist importance.
- (e): At present, sub-scheme 'Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons' is implemented across the country including all the North Eastern States and 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the act of Begging' is implemented in 5 North Eastern states namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

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