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SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) (UPSC/RAS/PSI)

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  • Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE)
  • SMILE is an umbrella Central Sector Scheme designed to provide comprehensive welfare and rehabilitation to two of India's most marginalized groups- Transgender persons and persons engaged in the act of begging.
  • To create a Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat (Begging-Free India) by 2031 while offering social security, legal protection, and dignified, self-reliant living to marginalized individuals.

Two sub-schemes-

  1. Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
  2. Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging

I- Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons-

  • Designed to enforce rights under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, addressing health, identity, and socio-economic exclusion-
  1. Scholarships & Education- Direct financial assistance for transgender students studying from Class IX up to Post-Graduation and technical courses.
  2. Composite Healthcare Package- Integrated directly with PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat) to cover comprehensive health insurance, including Gender-Reaffirmation Surgeries at designated hospitals.
  3. Garima Greh (Shelter Homes)- Community-based shelter homes providing basic amenities (food, shelter, medical care, clothing) alongside skill development training.Status - 23 geotagged Garima Grehs are active across 17 States/UTs.
  4. Transgender Protection Cells- Mandated in every state to monitor offenses, track incidents, and facilitate the timely registration, investigation, and prosecution of crimes against transgender individuals.
  5. National Portal- The National Portal for Transgender Persons (transgender.dosje.gov.in) acts as a single digital gateway issuing unified Transgender Certificates and ID cards.

Sub-Scheme II- Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging

  • Focuses on rescue, social defense, skill building, and long-term reintegration into mainstream society-
  • 5-Step Rehabilitation Pipeline-
  1. Survey & Identification- Systematically mapping vulnerable urban zones.
  2. Mobilization & Rescue- Outreaching to individuals with counselling and emergency assistance.
  3. Shelter & Basic Care- Transitional shelter homes offering healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene services.
  4. Skill Development- Vocational skilling linked with the PM-DAKSH scheme (carpentry, tailoring, e-rickshaw driving, sanitation management).
  5. Economic Resettlement- Forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and enabling bank credit access to promote small micro-enterprises.
  6. Digital Monitoring Rail- Tracked via the SMILE-Beggary National Portal (smile-be.dosje.gov.in), which registers shelter homes, monitors real-time beneficiary rescue, and ensures fund transparency.

Operational Coverage & Performance Milestones-

  1. City Scaling- Initially piloted as the SMILE-75 Initiative across 75 Municipal Corporations. Expanded to 216 operational cities, with an approved plan to scale to 295 cities by FY 2030-31 (targeting religious, historical, tourist, and metropolitan hubs).
  2. Rehabilitation Targets- Sets a benchmark to rehabilitate 35,000 individuals by FY 2030-31.
  3. Progress- Over 31,000 individuals have been formally identified, and over 10,200 individuals have been successfully rehabilitated.
  1. Decriminalization Paradigm- Shifts the state response to beggary away from criminalization and punitive policing toward human rights-based, compassionate social rehabilitation.
  2. Constitutional Alignment- Enforces Article 21 (Right to Life with Dignity) and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) by tackling extreme destitution, poverty, and systemic social exclusion.
  3. Economic Integration- Converts vulnerable individuals from informal survival activities into productive participants in the formal labor market through skilling.