SMILE Scheme Takes Centre Stage in Government's Push for Marginalised Individuals' Empowerment

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme, which aims to provide comprehensive rehabilitation and socio-economic empowerment to marginalized individuals. The scheme includes a sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging and another component for the welfare of transgender persons. The scheme has led to the rehabilitation of 42,589 persons and 12,710 persons under the sub-scheme, as well as 1,041 transgender persons through Garima Grehs.

Reported by 4 sources

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Quick Revision

Prelims-testable facts

01The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme as an Umbrella Central Sector Scheme.
02The SMILE scheme includes a sub-scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging, with interventions focused on rehabilitation, medical facilities, counselling, education, skill development, and livelihood opportunities.
03The SMILE scheme is implemented with the support of State and UT Governments, District Administrations, Urban Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations, and other organisations and agencies working in the field.
04As of the latest information available on the official SMILE-BEGGARY portal, 42,589 persons have been identified/surveyed and 12,710 persons have been rehabilitated under the initiative.
05The sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging was launched on 12 February 2022.
06The SMILE scheme seeks to promote an inclusive society by enabling marginalised individuals to access welfare services, develop skills, and livelihood capabilities, and reintegrate into mainstream society with dignity and self-confidence.

Trap alerts

Most people think the SMILE scheme is only focused on rehabilitation, but actually it also provides livelihood opportunities and skill development to marginalised individuals.
Most people think the SMILE scheme is a new initiative, but actually it was launched on 12 February 2022 as part of the Ministry's broader commitment to social justice and inclusive development.

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Prelims Practice MCQs

Single facteasy

Under the SMILE Scheme, how many persons have been rehabilitated under the sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging?

A.12,710
B.42,589
C.50,000
D.1,041

12,710 persons have been rehabilitated under the sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging, as part of the SMILE Scheme.

Multiple statementsmedium

Consider the following statements regarding SMILE Scheme: 1. The SMILE Scheme was launched on 12 February 2022. 2. The SMILE Scheme has rehabilitated 42,589 persons engaged in begging. 3. The SMILE Scheme provides financial assistance to marginalized individuals. How many of the above statements are correct?

A.Only one
B.Only two
C.All three
D.None

Statement 1 is false because the sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging was launched on 12 February 2022, which is a specific sub-scheme under SMILE. Statement 2 is true because 42,589 persons have been identified/surveyed and 12,710 persons have been rehabilitated under the sub-scheme. Statement 3 is false because the fact list does not mention financial assistance as a provision of the SMILE Scheme.

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