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What is the News?
The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment has launched the SMILE Scheme.
What is a SMILE Scheme?
SMILE stands for Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
Type: It is a Central Sector Scheme.
Aim: To provide welfare and rehabilitation to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
Sub-Schemes of SMILE Scheme
The two sub-schemes of SMILE are:
Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
It provides for:
-Scholarships for Transgender Students studying in IX and till post-graduation to enable them to complete their education.
-Skill Development and Livelihood under the PM-DAKSH scheme.
-Composite Medical Health and Housing facility in the form of ‘Garima Greh’
-Provision of Transgender Protection Cell in each state will monitor cases of offences and ensure timely registration, investigation and prosecution of offences.
-Creating a National Portal & Helpline
Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging
It provides for
-Survey and Identification of beneficiaries shall be carried out by the Implementing Agencies.
-Outreach work will be done to mobilise the persons engaged in begging to avail the services available in the Shelter Homes.
-The shelter homes will facilitate education for children engaged in the act of Begging
Sources: This post is based on the article “Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment launches “SMILE” scheme” published in PIB on 14th Feb 2022.
