What are the two main components of the SMILE Scheme?

The scheme includes the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Transgender Persons and the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging.

What challenges does the SMILE Scheme aim to address?

The scheme addresses challenges such as societal stigma, discrimination, and lack of legal recognition for transgender individuals, as well as providing comprehensive support and welfare measures.

What is the smile scheme for beggars?

The SMILE scheme supports beggars and homeless persons by offering rehabilitation, shelter, and skill training.

What is the smile 75 scheme?

SMILE-75 identifies and rehabilitates beggars in 75 selected municipalities across India.

Which scheme is introduced to rehabilitate beggars?

The SMILE scheme is the main national programme for the rehabilitation of beggars.

What are the two main components of the SMILE Scheme?

The scheme includes the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Transgender Persons and the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging.

What challenges does the SMILE Scheme aim to address?

The scheme addresses challenges such as societal stigma, discrimination, and lack of legal recognition for transgender individuals, as well as providing comprehensive support and welfare measures.

What is the purpose of the smile program?

Its purpose is to provide social security, rehabilitation, and welfare services for marginalized individuals including beggars.

What is the Article 275 scheme?

Article 275 scheme provides grants-in-aid to states, especially tribal areas, for development and welfare activities.

Who is eligible for the Rupashree scheme?

Rupashree is for women from economically weaker families who are getting married and meet income and age criteria.

Who launched the smile scheme?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SMILE scheme.

Which state has launched the beggar-free scheme in India?

Uttar Pradesh has launched a major beggar-free campaign in various cities.

What is the full form of smile in education?

In education, SMILE stands for Support, Mobilize, Initiate, Learn, and Excel.

What is the Modi Ji 3000 rupees scheme?

The Modi Ji ₹3000 scheme refers to PM Laghu Vyapari Mandhan Yojana for small traders.

What is the new law for beggars in India?

Many states are replacing old anti-begging laws with welfare-based rehabilitation rules instead of penalties.

What is PM Modi 5000 rupees scheme?

The PM Modi ₹5000 scheme refers to various state-level DBT schemes; the amount depends on specific programme rules.

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SMILE Scheme For Empowering Transgenders And Beggars For A Brighter Future

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 10-12-2025 at 5:30 PM

India is the most populous country in the world, wherein various classes of people live and survive, and one of those classes is the transgender community, which faces a wide range of problems simply because they choose to live their lives as they want and people who beg to support their lives. To address the community's issues, the Government of India launched the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE scheme full form).

The SMILE Scheme aims at changing the lives of the transgender community and people engaged in begging; it is, therefore, an innovative approach towards addressing their all-around welfare.

Overview

The table below gives the key insights of the SMILE Scheme. Read the table below to understand it better:-

Name of the scheme	Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE scheme full form)
SMILE scheme by which Ministry	Not any ministry, but the Government of India
SMILE scheme launch date	2022
Objective	To promote the welfare of transgender individuals and people who are in need to support their lives
Eligibility	Transgender people and people who are begging to support their lives
Application mode	Offline
Benefits	Scholarships for pursuing education, skill development programs, housing and economic support, etc.

Also Read: What Is The National Portal For Transgender Persons?

What Is The SMILE Scheme?

The SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) is a comprehensive umbrella programme designed to uplift transgender persons and individuals involved in begging. It merges and strengthens existing initiatives to create a unified, structured system of social welfare.

It consists of two main sub-schemes:

Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging

These sub-schemes offer financial support, rehabilitation, counselling, education, housing, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.

The SMILE Scheme PIB frequently highlights how these interventions are designed to help marginalised individuals reintegrate into mainstream society.

Objectives Of The SMILE Scheme

SMILE Scheme has its primary goal of empowering marginalised individuals, particularly transgender and beggars, to live a dignified life. The scheme puts huge emphasis on:

Rehabilitation: Make use of current shelter homes or create new ones if necessary.
Medical Facilities: Providing comprehensive medical support in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Counselling: Offering psychological support and counselling services.
Education and Skill Development: Providing scholarships for transgender students and skill development opportunities under the PM-DAKSH scheme.
Economic Linkages: Enabling self-reliance through livelihood programs.

About 60,000 poorest people are targeted to benefit from this program, according to estimates given by this govt scheme.

Components Of The SMILE Scheme

The table below showcases the key components of the SMILE Scheme:-

Scheme Under the SMILE Scheme	Details
Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons	The scheme provides scholarships to transgender students from class IX to PG, offers skill development through the PM-DAKSH scheme, provides healthcare packages, and helps in housing through the Garima Greh scheme
Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging	The scheme identifies people who beg to support their lives, aims to provide shelter and other necessities, and helps in their transition into society

Eligibility Criterion Of The SMILE Scheme

Interested individuals must meet the eligibility criteria to reap the scheme’s benefits. The eligibility criterion is as follows:

People from the transgender community with a government-issued certificate.
Any individual who begs to support their living.
Shouldn’t be part of any other govt. scheme.

Application Process Of The SMILE Scheme

Interested and eligible individuals can apply for the sub-schemes under the SMILE Scheme by following the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the SMILE Scheme.

Step 2: Register using your details.

Step 3: Fill in the application form for the selected sub-scheme.

Step 4: Apply.

Required Documents

Applicants need to submit certain supporting documents to apply for the scheme. The list of documents is as follows:

Aadhaar Card or any valid identity proof
Address proof
Date of birth proof
Passport-size photographs
Transgender Certificate/ID Card (for transgender applicants)
Self-declaration for individuals engaged in begging
Bank account details
Recommendation from local authority/NGO/Shelter Home
Medical reports (if applying for medical assistance)

Implementation Of The SMILE Scheme

The implementation will be done through state/ UT Government support; voluntary organisations, Urban Local Bodies, community-based organisations (CBOs), etc. Key implementation features include;

Shelter Homes: Existing shelter homes and new ones for rehabilitation.
Garima Greh: Housing facilities that provide food, clothing, recreational activities, skill development opportunities, and medical support.
Transgender Protection Cells: Established in each state to monitor and ensure timely registration, investigation, and prosecution of offences against transgender persons.
National Portal and Helpline: Offering necessary information and solutions to the transgender community and people engaged in begging.

Focus On Comprehensive Welfare

The SMILE Scheme PIB doesn’t only look at immediate relief but also focuses on long-term welfare and empowerment. Some of the notable provisions are;

Scholarships for Transgender Students: Supporting education from Class 9th to post-graduation.
Skill Development: Providing training programs under the PM-DAKSH scheme to enhance employability.
Medical Support: Health packages covering surgeries such as gender affirmation through selected hospitals.
Economic Opportunities: Accessing livelihood programs or financial assistance to start enterprises, among others.

Challenges Faced By Transgenders In India

In India, transsexual individuals face several problems: societal stigma, discrimination as well and the absence of legal recognition. Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, coupled with the SMILE Scheme, seeks to address these problems by offering legal protection plus comprehensive welfare measures. However, implementation gaps as well as societal attitudes remain considerable challenges.

Also Read: Garima Greh Shelter Homes Scheme for Transgenders.

Initiatives For Transgender Persons

The SMILE Scheme is complemented by other initiatives such as;

Ayushman Bharat TG Plus Card: Providing over 50 health benefit services to transgender persons.
Dedicated Toilets: Inclusion of transgender-friendly toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
National Portal for Transgender Persons: Facilitating access to government services and support.

Other Schemes For Beggars In India

Apart from the SMILE Scheme, the government of India has other initiatives for improving the lives of beggars, such as:

National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM): This program aims to provide skill development and employment opportunities to people so that they can become financially independent.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Beggars: This scheme is focused on rehabilitating the beggars of the country and helping them reform their lives.

Conclusion

The SMILE Scheme is a significant step towards building an inclusive India by addressing the needs of transgender persons and people engaged in begging. With structured support in education, health, housing and employment, the scheme focuses on restoring dignity and ensuring long-term empowerment. As highlighted in various SMILE Scheme PIB updates, the government aims to bring marginalised communities into the mainstream and reduce generational poverty.

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