Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise: SMILE Scheme

SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise), implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, supports transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging through rehabilitation, healthcare, education, shelter, and livelihood assistance. Benefits are delivered through dedicated portals, outreach programmes, and rehabilitation agencies across the country.

Introduction of SMILE Scheme: A Brief Insight

Transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging are among the most vulnerable sections of society, often facing challenges in accessing identity documents, healthcare services, education, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. To address these issues, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) on 12 February 2022.

The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Its objective is to help these communities move towards a more secure and dignified life through access to welfare services, rehabilitation support, education, healthcare, shelter, and livelihood opportunities.

SMILE functions as an umbrella programme with two dedicated sub-schemes. The Transgender Persons component offers scholarships, health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh, Garima Greh shelter homes, skill development programmes, and livelihood support.

The Beggary Rehabilitation component focuses on identification, rescue, shelter, counselling, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. Under this component, more than 26,000 individuals have already been identified, while nearly 8,000 beneficiaries have been rehabilitated. Special emphasis is also placed on reuniting children with their families wherever possible.

Access to benefits differs for each component. Transgender persons can apply through the National Portal for Transgender Persons, while rehabilitation under the beggary component is carried out through outreach, survey, and intervention activities conducted by implementing agencies. For assistance, beneficiaries can contact their nearest District Social Welfare Office.

Those affected by TB can also explore the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, which provides nutritional support during treatment. Families can additionally check the Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana and the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Card Scheme, which offers health coverage for senior citizens aged 70 years and above.

Transgender persons, individuals seeking rehabilitation support, and readers looking for more welfare initiatives launched by the Government of India can explore all available programmes on our Central Government Welfare Schemes page.

Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries

SMILE Scheme provides a wide range of support services through its two components, focusing on education, healthcare, shelter, rehabilitation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable individuals.

Transgender Persons Sub-Scheme

• Scholarships for students studying from Class IX to post graduation level, including vocational, technical, and diploma courses
• Health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year through a cashless healthcare arrangement between the Ministry and the National Health Authority
• Garima Greh shelter homes providing accommodation, nutritious food, medical care, counselling, recreational activities, and skill development support
• Skill training, entrepreneurship support, and livelihood opportunities to promote economic independence
• Transgender Protection Cells established at State and District levels to strengthen safety, welfare, and grievance redressal mechanisms

Beggary Rehabilitation Sub-Scheme

• Shelter facilities offering food, clothing, sanitation, healthcare services, and counselling support
• Skill development programmes and livelihood linkages to help beneficiaries become self-reliant
• Access to government welfare services such as Aadhaar enrolment, ration cards, social security pensions, and educational support for children
• Special protection and rehabilitation measures for children found begging, with priority given to family reunification wherever possible

Impact and Reach Across Both Components

• More than 30,000 Transgender Identity Certificates have been issued across the country
• 23 Garima Grehs are operational in 17 States and Union Territories, supporting approximately 400 to 430 residents at any given time
• Beggary rehabilitation initiatives are being implemented across approximately 181 to 195 cities covering 33 to 34 States and Union Territories
• 26,708 individuals have been identified, while 7,873 beneficiaries have been successfully rehabilitated, including 1,313 children, many of whom have been reunited with their families

Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled

Since SMILE Scheme supports two different categories of beneficiaries under a single umbrella programme, the eligibility conditions vary according to the component under which assistance is being provided.

Transgender Persons Sub-Scheme

• Must possess a valid Transgender Certificate and Identity Card issued through the National Portal for Transgender Persons
• Should not be receiving similar benefits under any other Central or State Government scheme for the same purpose
• For admission to a Garima Greh shelter home, applicants should preferably belong to the Below Poverty Line category, be abandoned or destitute, be 18 years of age or above, and should not be engaged in sex work or begging

Beggary Rehabilitation Sub-Scheme

• Applicable to Indian citizens identified as engaged in begging through surveys, rescue drives, and rehabilitation activities conducted by authorised agencies
• Primarily implemented in urban centres, religious destinations, tourist locations, and heritage sites covered under the scheme
• Children found begging receive special protection through family reunification efforts or referral to the Child Welfare Committee when reunification is not possible

Who Won’t Qualify

• Transgender applicants who do not possess a valid Transgender Certificate and Identity Card
• Individuals already availing equivalent benefits under another government welfare scheme for the same purpose
• Applicants seeking admission to Garima Greh who do not meet the prescribed eligibility conditions

Documents Required to be Attached

Since SMILE Scheme operates through two separate components, the documents required may vary depending on the benefit or sub-scheme under which assistance is being provided.

For the Transgender Persons Sub-Scheme

• Transgender Certificate and Identity Card, issued through the National Portal for Transgender Persons, which is mandatory for accessing benefits under this component
• Aadhaar Card
• For admission to a Garima Greh shelter home, age proof and documents confirming that the applicant is not currently engaged in sex work or begging activities
• Academic records and educational documents for students applying under the scholarship component

For the Beggary Rehabilitation Sub-Scheme

• Identification documents established during the survey and beneficiary identification process carried out by implementing agencies
• Aadhaar Card, or supporting documents required for Aadhaar enrolment, as enrolment is often facilitated during the rehabilitation process
• For children, documents related to family reunification, guardianship, or referral records issued by the Child Welfare Committee

How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of the Scheme

Since SMILE Scheme supports two different beneficiary groups, the process for accessing benefits varies depending on the component that applies to you. Here’s a simple step-by-step explanation of how each process works.

If You’re a Transgender Person

Step 1: Visit the official National Portal for Transgender Persons.

Step 2: Register yourself on the portal and apply for your Transgender Certificate and Identity Card. This certificate is essential because it serves as the primary document for accessing benefits available under this component of the scheme.

Step 3: After receiving your certificate, log in to the portal and apply for the benefit that matches your requirement, such as a scholarship for education, healthcare support, skill development assistance, or admission to a Garima Greh shelter home.

Step 4: If you need accommodation and rehabilitation support through a Garima Greh, you can contact the nearest operational shelter home directly or seek assistance from your State Social Justice Department, which helps coordinate admissions through local implementing agencies.

If You or Someone You Know Is Engaged in Begging

Step 1: This component does not usually require a direct application. Instead, authorised agencies, Urban Local Bodies, and partner NGOs conduct surveys, outreach programmes, and identification drives in cities, religious places, tourist destinations, and other public locations.

Step 2: Once a person is identified, the concerned agency connects them with rehabilitation services such as shelter, food, medical care, counselling, skill training, Aadhaar enrolment, ration card assistance, and other welfare benefits.

Step 3: If a child is identified during the rehabilitation process, priority is given to safely reuniting the child with their family. If that is not possible, the child is referred to the appropriate Child Welfare Committee for care and protection.

Important: Since SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) is implemented through State Governments, District Administrations, Urban Local Bodies, and empanelled organisations, your nearest District Social Welfare Office is usually the best place to seek guidance and understand which benefits may be available to you.

Understanding the Two Components of SMILE Scheme

SMILE Scheme operates through two separate components. While both focus on rehabilitation and social inclusion, the target beneficiaries and mode of implementation are different.

Important Links Available of the Scheme

• National Portal for Transgender Persons Official Portal for Certificate, Identity Card and Scheme Benefits
• SMILE Beggary Rehabilitation Portal for Monitoring and Rehabilitation Services
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Official SMILE Scheme Information

Note: Always access SMILE Scheme services through the official government portals or your nearest District Social Welfare Office. Avoid sharing personal documents or paying any fee to unofficial websites, agents, or individuals claiming to provide faster approval or guaranteed benefits under the scheme.

Contact Details in Case of Help Needed

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
• Local Level: Contact your nearest District Social Welfare Office, or your State’s Transgender Welfare Board

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Tabassum

Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare scheme programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.