Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. Currently, a pilot project of it is ongoing in 7 cities namely Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna. The Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 Crore for the SMILE Scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The scheme consists of two sub-schemes: one for transgender persons and one for persons engaged in begging. The scheme includes various measures such as welfare support, medical facilities, education, skill development, counselling and economic opportunities.
Smile Scheme Overview
SMILE Scheme focus is on helping the people who categorise in the marginalised group of individuals. It will be a comprehensive scheme for persons engaged in the act of begging. It also offers job training, funding, and business advice with the necessary tools for work and income.
Objectives of the SMILE Scheme
- To provide ability improvement and vocational education to marginalized individuals.
- To facilitate access to credit and monetary services for setting up and increasing organizations.
- To create permitting surroundings for entrepreneurship among marginalized groups.
- To sell sustainable livelihood options for marginalized individuals.
- To ensure social inclusion and the same possibilities for marginalized communities.
Focus of the Scheme
The SMILE scheme focuses on providing financial help to marginalized individuals. Through this scheme, citizens will be linked to various types of work. The scheme allows them to set up their own enterprises in the following sectors:
- Agriculture and allied activities
- Handicrafts and handlooms
- Micro and small enterprises
- Tourism and hospitality
- Information and communication technology (ICT)
SMILE Scheme Eligibility
- Individuals belonging to the Scheduled Castes community.
- The applicant’s annual family income should not exceed Rs. 3.00 Lakh.
- Acceptable documents as proof of the prime breadwinner’s death from COVID-19 include a death certificate.
The scheme offers training programs to help marginalized individuals develop the skills. The SMILE Scheme contributes to the reduction of beggary in India. It gives them tools to support themselves.
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