Article Title: Initiative 'SMILE' launched to make cities, towns and municipal areas begging-free
13-08-2022
Social Issues Prelims Plus
SMILE - Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise' initiative.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme on February 12, 2022.
The Initiative aims to make cities, towns and municipal areas begging-free and make a strategy for comprehensive rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of begging through the coordinated action of various stakeholders.
On account of 75th Independence day, the ministry has launched the SMILE-75 in 75 Municipal Corporations in the country.
The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on.
According to the Census 2011 , total number of beggars in India is 4,13,670 and the number has increased from the last census.
West Bengal tops, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
POLITICAL SCIENCE & IR HYBRID BATCH ORIENTATION : 20-11-2024