Lok Sabha Question No. 595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: SMILE Scheme
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.595 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2024

## SMILE SCHEME

## 595. DR JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has formulated a scheme of SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) to address the persisting problem of destitution and beggary;
- (b) if s0, the details thereof including funds sanctioned, State-wise;
- whether the Government has identified seventy-five Municipal Corporations to implement rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging under "SMILE-75 Initiative" ;
- (d\_ if so, the detailed name of 'municipal corporations, State-wise; and
- the other steps taken by the Government for eradication of begging and rehabilitation of beggars in the country? being

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

- (a) to (d) Ministry has launched an umbrella scheme "SMILE Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises"" on 12.02.2022. The scheme includes sub-scheme "Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging 2025-26 out of which Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for Financial Year 2023-24 Since the scheme is a Central Sector Scheme no fund is allocated State-wise and the releases are made directly to the identified cities as per the guidelines ofthe scheme. Initially, the scheme is implemented in 30 cities which are places of tourist, historical and religious importance. The list of these cities are at Annexure. being
- (e) Ministry has taken various other steps such as, media campaign IEC for awareness creation; education; capacity building; consultations/seminars and National conference towards familiarizing the scheme. In addition, Ministry has also developed an Online-Portal National Portal and Mobile App for conducting survey and identification and providing rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging

SMILE Scheme implementation in 30 cities during FY 2023-24

|    | States/UTs        | Name of City      | District           |
|----|-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|
| 1  | Assam             | Guwahati          | Guwahati           |
| 2  | Gujarat           | PavagarhMahakali  | Panchmahal         |
| 3  | Gujarat           | Somanath          | GirSomanath        |
|    | Himachal Pradesh  | Kangra            | Kangra_            |
|    | Madhya Pradesh    | Omkareshwar       | Omkareshwar        |
|    | Madhya Pradesh    | Ujjain            |                    |
|    | Maharashtra       | Trimbakeshwar     | Nashik             |
|    | Bihar             | Bodhgaya          | Gaya_              |
| 9  | Tamil Nadu        | Madurai           | Madurai            |
| 10 | Uttar Pradesh     | Ayodhya           | Ayodhya            |
| 11 | Andhra Pradesh    | Vijayawada        | Vijayawada         |
| 12 | Arunachal Pradesh | Namsai            | Namsai             |
| 13 | Uttar Pradesh     | Kushinagar        | Kushinagar         |
| 14 | Gujarat           | Kevadia           | Narmada            |
| 15 | Jammu and Kashmir | Sri Nagar         | Sri Nagar          |
| 16 | Madhya Pradesh    | Sanchi            | Raisen             |
| 17 | Madhya Pradesh_   | Khajuraho         | Khajuraho          |
| 18 | Rajasthan         | Jaisalmer         | Jaisalmer          |
| 19 | Kerala            | Thirvananthapuram | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 20 | Puducherry        | Puducherry        | Puducherry         |
| 21 | Assam             | Tezpur            | Tezpur_            |
| 22 | Himachal Pradesh  | Shimla            | Shimla             |
| 23 | Haryana           | Panchkula         | Panchkula          |
| 24 | Karnataka         | Mysuru _          | Mysuru             |
| 25 | Kerala            | Kozhikode         | Kozhikode          |
| 26 | Madhya Pradesh    | Indore            | Indore             |
| 27 | Odisha            | Cuttack           | Cuttack            |
| 28 | Telangana         | Warangal          | Warangal           |
| 29 | Punjab            | Amritsar          | Amritsar           |
| 30 | Rajasthan         | Udaipur           | Udaipur            |

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