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16 Dec 2021 Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise-SMILE

Posted at 12:30h in Daily current-affairs by khyati khare 0 Comments

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Recently, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it was informed that the scheme named SMILE- Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise by the Ministry has been prepared.
It also includes a Central Sector sub-scheme named ‘Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Beggars’.
Presently this pilot project is going on in 7 cities of Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna.

This is a new scheme after the merger of existing schemes for beggars and Trans genders.
This scheme ensures rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging for use of existing shelter homes available with State/UT Governments and Urban Local Bodies.
In case of non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes will be set up by the implementing agencies.
The focus of the scheme is mass rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development etc.
It is estimated that under this scheme around 60,000 poorest persons will be benefitted to lead a dignified life.
It will be implemented in collaboration with State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Institutions and others.

It will be a comprehensive scheme to improve the standard of living of the persons engaged in begging.
The scheme has been implemented on a pilot basis in select cities where the number of beggars is high.
Year of 2019-20, the Ministry released an amount of Rs 1 crore to National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and Rs 70 lakh to National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) for skill development programs of beggars.

According to the 2011 census, the total number of beggars in India is 4, 13,670 (2, 21,673 males and 1, 91,997 females) and this number has increased since the last census.
West Bengal tops the list, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and third place respectively. According to the 2011 census, the number of beggars in Lakshadweep is only two.
Among the Union Territories, New Delhi had the highest number of beggars at 2,187, followed by Chandigarh with 121.
Among the north-eastern states, Assam tops the list with 22,116 beggars, while Mizoram is at the bottom with 53 beggars.
Recently, the Supreme Court has agreed to consider a petition under the Prevention of Begging Act in various states to decriminalize begging.

NBCFDC is a Government of India Undertaking under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It was incorporated on 13th January, 1992 as a not-for-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956.
Its objective is to promote economic and developmental activities to benefit the backward classes and to help the poor of these sections in skill development and self-employment ventures.

NISD is an autonomous body and is registered under Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi.
It is a central advisory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence.
The institute is presently focused on human resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, senior citizens welfare, beggary prevention, transgender and other social defence related issues.
The mandate of the Institute is to provide information for social defence programs of the Government of India through training, research and documentation.