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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme has rehabilitated over 10,200 persons engaged in begging across 216 cities so far.
The approved implementation plan for FY2026-31 sets a rehabilitation target of 35,000 persons and aims to expand coverage from 216 to 295 cities by 2030-31.
SMILE is an umbrella programme combining two sub-schemes — comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging, and comprehensive rehabilitation of transgender persons — envisioning a 'Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat' (Begging-Free India).
A SMILE-Beggary National Portal enables digital registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and shelter homes under the scheme.
Comprehensive rehabilitation towards a begging-free India
Key: Convergence of Centre, states, UTs, district administrations, ULBs and municipal corporations
Welfare and rehabilitation of the transgender community
Key: Part of the same SMILE umbrella programme
GS Paper II > Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
General Awareness > Government Schemes
'Begging-Free India' — the stated vision of SMILE's beggary-rehabilitation sub-scheme
A scheme 100% funded by the Union government and implemented by central agencies, as opposed to Centrally Sponsored Schemes shared with states