✎ SMILE-Beggary Scheme rehabilitates 10,446 individuals with vocational training and financial support.
Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Polity & Governance
The government has strengthened the rehabilitation framework for individuals engaged in begging under the **SMILE-Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging (SMILE-Beggary)**, as highlighted in a recent PIB release. Launched on **23 October 2023**, the scheme has disbursed **₹45.59 crore** (with ₹40.04 crore allocated to implementing authorities) by **31 July 2026**, benefiting **10,446 individuals**, including **2,824 children**. The initiative focuses on **skill development, livelihood support, and social reintegration**, offering vocational training in trades like carpentry, tailoring, e-rickshaw driving, and food vending. Beneficiaries are linked to financial institutions for loans, and self-help groups are formed to promote entrepreneurship. States like **Tamil Nadu (1,557 adults), Madhya Pradesh (1,135), and Uttar Pradesh (884)** have seen the highest rehabilitation numbers. The scheme aligns with the **Supreme Court’s directives** in *M.S. Patter v. NCT Delhi* and introduces **standardized guidelines** for infrastructure, health, legal aid, and monitoring via a **dedicated mobile app and digital portal**.
For **Banking, SSC, and RBI Grade B aspirants**, this scheme is significant as it reflects **government-led social welfare policies** with **budgetary allocations (₹45.59 crore)** and **multi-stakeholder coordination**—key themes in governance sections. The emphasis on **skill development, financial inclusion (bank linkages), and digital monitoring** ties into **current affairs** questions on **PM-KISAN, Mudra Yojana, or Skill India Mission**. Additionally, the **Supreme Court’s intervention** and **standardized guidelines** underscore the **judicial-legislative interplay**, a critical area for **RBI Grade B’s Economic & Social Issues (ESI) syllabus**. The scheme’s **state-wise data** and **monitoring mechanisms** could also appear in **SSC CGL’s Polity & Governance** or **Bank PO’s Descriptive Papers** as a case study on **inclusive growth and policy implementation**.
Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)
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