SMILE scheme rehabilitates 12,710 beggars, 1,041 transgender persons

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme, an umbrella central sector scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation and socio-economic empowerment of marginalised individuals. Under the sub-scheme for persons engaged in begging, 42,589 persons have been identified and 12,710 have been rehabilitated across the country since its launch on 12 February 2022, according to the official SMILE-BEGGARY portal.

The scheme also covers transgender persons under a separate component. The government has established 23 Garima Grehs in 17 states and UTs, rehabilitating 1,041 transgender persons in the last three years. A total of 33,303 transgender identity cards and certificates have been issued through the National Portal for Transgender Persons. Additionally, 725 transgender persons received skill development training, 150 underwent an entrepreneurship development programme, and three National Transgender Employment Melas benefited 223 persons.

Institutional mechanisms include Transgender Protection Cells in 27 states and UTs and 30 Transgender Welfare Boards set up by states and UTs. A third-party evaluation by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, was conducted in September, October 2025. Its findings have been incorporated into revised scheme guidelines for continuation from 2026, 27 to 2030, 31 under the 16th Finance Commission cycle.