REHABILITATION OF BEGGARS

Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 4:50PM by PIB Delhi The inception of the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) sub-scheme &ldquo;Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging&rdquo; that is 23.10.2023, a total of 31,055 persons have been identified as engaged in the act of begging, out of which 9,855 persons have been rescued and rehabilitated under the sub-scheme, which includes 2,480 children. The State/UT-wise details are placed at Annexure-I. The SMILE sub-scheme is implemented through the Implementing Authorities (IAs) namely District Administration/ Urban Local Bodies/ Municipal Corporations and other agencies working in the field of beggary prevention. As per the sub-scheme guidelines, the Implementing Authority appoints/ selects the Implementing Agency/Non-Government Organisation (NGO) through a prescribed selection process. Since the scheme is being implemented through IAs, requests for rehabilitation are not received in the Ministry as all rescued persons are provided comprehensive rehabilitation as per their willingness/interest and in line with different provisions of the scheme guidelines. Under the SMILE sub-scheme, beneficiaries are provided skill development and livelihood opportunities through a convergence approach with various Central and State Government programmes. All eligible persons have been provided skill training based on local demand and aptitude in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, cooking, gardening, security services, sanitation work, e-rickshaw driving and other vocational activities. Formation of community / Self Help Groups (SHGs) and establishing linkages with banks for financial assistance for income generation activities are also supported under the sub-scheme. Details are placed in Annexure-I. Under the sub-scheme, identification of beneficiaries, providing shelter, counselling and skill development / vocational training are linked to appropriate welfare and livelihood schemes through convergence with other Central and State Government programmes. Hence, data for current employability or livelihood status of rehabilitated beneficiaries are not maintained in the department. Further, in order to ensure effective rehabilitation, sustainable livelihood, and prevention of relapse into begging; vocational training and skill development based on locally demanding wage employment/livelihoods are provided to facilitate employment or self-employment, and follow-up action is carried out for long-term reintegration and sustainable rehabilitation. Annexure &ndash; I State/UT-wise list of Survey/Identification and Rehabilitation S. No. States/UTs Survey/ Identification Total Rescue and Rehabilitation Total Wage Employment Self-employment 1 Andhra Pradesh 2569 653 400 50 2 Arunachal Pradesh 140 99 80 0 3 Assam 1840 605 116 263 4 Bihar 476 375 198 62 5 Chandigarh (UT) 499 352 198 20 6 Delhi NCT 3318 372 186 50 7 Gujarat 1141 453 195 75 8 Himachal Pradesh 27 1 1 0 9 J & K 1143 510 166 8 10 Karnataka 875 88 40 26 11 Kerala 674 178 93 20 12 Madhya Pradesh 1772 1291 357 208 13 Maharashtra 1601 1025 244 80 14 Manipur 64 0 0 0 15 Mizoram 16 0 0 0 16 Nagaland 107 22 22 0 17 Odisha 784 288 78 100 18 Puducherry 485 178 8 73 19 Punjab 128 6 6 0 20 Rajasthan 79 0 0 0 21 Tamil Nadu 9145 1590 357 298 22 Telangana 580 53 53 0 23 Uttar Pradesh 3592 1716 1223 223 Total 31055 9855 4021 1556 The total number of persons rehabilitated under the sub-scheme also includes children who have been re-associated with their families or produced before the Child Welfare Committees. It also includes persons rehabilitated through convergence with other Central and State Government schemes by linking to services such as Old Age Homes, De-addiction Centres, and other appropriate care and support institutions. All other persons receive vocational /Skill training and are facilitated to take some wage-employment or self-employment. This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today . ***** SM/HK (Release ID: 2237626) Visitor Counter : 594 Read this release in: Urdu , हिन्दी Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment REHABILITATION OF BEGGARS Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 4:50PM by PIB Delhi The inception of the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) sub-scheme &ldquo;Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging&rdquo; that is 23.10.2023, a total of 31,055 persons have been identified as engaged in the act of begging, out of which 9,855 persons have been rescued and rehabilitated under the sub-scheme, which includes 2,480 children. The State/UT-wise details are placed at Annexure-I. The SMILE sub-scheme is implemented through the Implementing Authorities (IAs) namely District Administration/ Urban Local Bodies/ Municipal Corporations and other agencies working in the field of beggary prevention. As per the sub-scheme guidelines, the Implementing Authority appoints/ selects the Implementing Agency/Non-Government Organisation (NGO) through a prescribed selection process. Since the scheme is being implemented through IAs, requests for rehabilitation are not received in the Ministry as all rescued persons are provided comprehensive rehabilitation as per their willingness/interest and in line with different provisions of the scheme guidelines. Under the SMILE sub-scheme, beneficiaries are provided skill development and livelihood opportunities through a convergence approach with various Central and State Government programmes. All eligible persons have been provided skill training based on local demand and aptitude in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, cooking, gardening, security services, sanitation work, e-rickshaw driving and other vocational activities. Formation of community / Self Help Groups (SHGs) and establishing linkages with banks for financial assistance for income generation activities are also supported under the sub-scheme. Details are placed in Annexure-I. Under the sub-scheme, identification of beneficiaries, providing shelter, counselling and skill development / vocational training are linked to appropriate welfare and livelihood schemes through convergence with other Central and State Government programmes. Hence, data for current employability or livelihood status of rehabilitated beneficiaries are not maintained in the department. Further, in order to ensure effective rehabilitation, sustainable livelihood, and prevention of relapse into begging; vocational training and skill development based on locally demanding wage employment/livelihoods are provided to facilitate employment or self-employment, and follow-up action is carried out for long-term reintegration and sustainable rehabilitation. Annexure &ndash; I State/UT-wise list of Survey/Identification and Rehabilitation S. No. States/UTs Survey/ Identification Total Rescue and Rehabilitation Total Wage Employment Self-employment 1 Andhra Pradesh 2569 653 400 50 2 Arunachal Pradesh 140 99 80 0 3 Assam 1840 605 116 263 4 Bihar 476 375 198 62 5 Chandigarh (UT) 499 352 198 20 6 Delhi NCT 3318 372 186 50 7 Gujarat 1141 453 195 75 8 Himachal Pradesh 27 1 1 0 9 J & K 1143 510 166 8 10 Karnataka 875 88 40 26 11 Kerala 674 178 93 20 12 Madhya Pradesh 1772 1291 357 208 13 Maharashtra 1601 1025 244 80 14 Manipur 64 0 0 0 15 Mizoram 16 0 0 <td style="width:8