Smile-75 Initiative

Why in the News?

Recently, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry launched the ‘SMILE-75’ initiative for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging.

Key Points:

About SMILE-75 Initiative:

• Project aims to make 75 municipalities ‘begging-free’ as a part of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence.

• SMILE stands for ‘Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise’.
• Allocation: ₹100 crore till 2025-2026.
• Focus Area: Rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, awareness, education, skill development, economic linkages and convergence with other government welfare programmes etc.

About SMILE:

• Earlier, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched ‘SMILE’ which includes two sub-schemes –
  • Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
  • Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.