IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SMILE SCHEME

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SMILE SCHEME — UPSC Study Note

1. At a Glance

• SMILE = Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise — a central sector umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) with two sub-schemes: (a) Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Transgender Persons and (b) Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging [S2][S3].
• Relevant for GS-II (Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections); tests both factual recall (launch date, ministry, allocation) and analytical understanding of social-justice delivery [S1][S2].

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 25 March 2026: of 31,055 persons identified as engaged in begging since inception of the begging sub-scheme on 23.10.2023, 9,855 have been rescued and rehabilitated [S1].
• Third-party evaluation by National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad completed; Standing Finance Committee (SFC) memorandum modified to strengthen outreach, implementation and fund utilisation [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 12 February 2022 — Umbrella SMILE scheme launched by Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar [S3][S4].
• 12 August 2022 — SMILE-75 Initiative launched at Rain Basera, Nizamuddin (Delhi); identifies 75 Municipal Corporations under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to make cities begging-free [S4].
• 23 October 2023 — Begging-rehabilitation sub-scheme operationalised in current form [S1].
• Builds on earlier transgender welfare programmes post Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and NALSA v. Union of India (2014) ruling [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment; implementing wing — Department of Social Justice & Empowerment [S1][S2].
• Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding) [S2].
• Total outlay: ₹365 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 [S2]; ₹100 crore earmarked for the SMILE-75 begging-rehabilitation component [S4].
• Coverage: 75 Municipal Corporations under SMILE-75 [S4]; pan-India identification — 31,055 beggars identified, 9,855 rehabilitated as on 25 March 2026 [S1].
• Components for Transgenders: Scholarships (Class IX → PG); skill development via PM-DAKSH; Gender-Reaffirmation Surgeries; Garima Greh shelter homes; National Portal & Helpline; Transgender Protection Cell in each State [S2].
• Components for Beggars: surveys, mobilisation, shelter homes, skills, alternative livelihoods, Self-Help Groups (SHGs); vision — "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" [S2].
• Third-Party Evaluator: NIRDPR, Hyderabad [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social - Targets two of the most stigmatised groups — transgender persons and beggars — bringing them within the formal welfare grid [S2]. - Rights-based shift: from criminalisation (legacy of Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959) to rehabilitation [S1][S4].

Legal / Constitutional - Anchored in Articles 14, 21, 23, 38, 41 & 46; complements Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 [S2]. - Several High Courts (e.g., J&K HC, 2019) and SC have struck down anti-begging provisions as violating Art. 14 & 21 — SMILE provides the welfare alternative [S4].

Administrative - Multi-stakeholder model: MoSJE + State Governments + ULBs + NGOs + Municipal Corporations [S4]. - Bottlenecks visible — only ~32% rehabilitation rate (9,855 of 31,055) prompted SFC memorandum revision based on NIRDPR findings [S1].

Economic - Modest fiscal footprint (₹365 cr/5 yrs) relative to ambition; emphasis on livelihood creation via SHGs and PM-DAKSH rather than cash transfers [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 25 March 2026 — PIB data: 31,055 identified, 9,855 rescued [S1].
• NIRDPR Hyderabad third-party evaluation completed; SFC memorandum modified for improved outreach and fund utilisation [S1].
• Begging sub-scheme operational since 23 October 2023 [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• SMILE full form: Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise [S2].
• Launched by MoSJE on 12 February 2022 [S3].
• Two sub-schemes: Transgender rehabilitation + Begging rehabilitation [S2].
• Total allocation: ₹365 crore (2021-22 to 2025-26) [S2].
• SMILE-75 Initiative covers 75 Municipal Corporations with ₹100 crore [S4].
• Vision phrase: "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" [S2].
• Skill-training partner scheme: PM-DAKSH [S2].
• Transgender shelter homes called "Garima Greh" [S2].
• Begging sub-scheme operationalised on 23.10.2023 [S1].
• Third-party evaluator: NIRDPR, Hyderabad [S1].
• As of March 2026: 31,055 identified; 9,855 rehabilitated [S1].
• Includes Gender-Reaffirmation Surgery support through selected hospitals [S2].
• It is a Central Sector Scheme (not Centrally Sponsored) [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: "Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections by Centre/States and performance of mechanisms"; "Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources."
• Possible stems: 1. "Evaluate the SMILE scheme as an instrument of rights-based rehabilitation of beggars and transgender persons in India." 2. "Decriminalisation of begging requires a credible welfare alternative. In this context, examine the design and implementation gaps of the SMILE sub-scheme." 3. "Discuss how SMILE operationalises the directives of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 — statutory backbone for sub-scheme 1.
• NALSA v. Union of India (2014) — third gender judgment.
• Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 — legacy law being supplanted.
• PM-DAKSH — convergent skilling scheme.
• National Action Plan for Mechanical Scavengers (NAMASTE) — sibling MoSJE scheme.
• Garima Greh — pilot shelter model under SMILE.
• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav — branding umbrella under which SMILE-75 launched.
• NIRDPR, Hyderabad — premier evaluator for rural & welfare schemes.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• SMILE is implemented by MoSJE, not Ministry of Women & Child Development or Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme (100% central), not Centrally Sponsored.
• SMILE-75 ≠ 75 districts; it is 75 Municipal Corporations.
• Launch dates: umbrella 12 Feb 2022, SMILE-75 on 12 Aug 2022, begging sub-scheme operational 23 Oct 2023 — easy to mix up.
• Shelter homes for transgenders are Garima Greh (not "Sakhi Niwas" — that's a WCD hostel scheme).

11. Sources

• [S1] Implementation of the SMILE Scheme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2245076 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226198&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar launches "SMILE" scheme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1797968 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] SMILE-75 Initiative launched — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1851291&reg=3&lang=2 — (tier: 1)