Government to launch SMILE scheme today

The government will launch the Central Sector Scheme “SMILE- Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” in New Delhi today. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said, the umbrella scheme is designed to provide welfare measures to the Transgender community and people engaged in the act of begging.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has allocated 365 crore rupees for the scheme for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. It includes two sub-schemes-Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons and Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.

The scheme strengthens and expands the reach of the rights that provide the



targeted group with necessary legal protection and a promise to a secured life. It also focus on the aspect of social security by emphasizing on providing medical care, education, occupational opportunities and shelter.

Under the Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender person scheme, there is a provision to provide scholarships to the transgender students. There is also a provision of setting up of Transgender Protection Cell to ensure timely registration, investigation and prosecution of offenses.

Under the Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging, survey and identification of beneficiaries will be carried out by the implementing agencies.