The Government has informed the Lok Sabha that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Central Sector Scheme, Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) – Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging, since 23rd October 2023 in 216 major cities and towns across 33 States/Union Territories.

This information was provided by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri B L Verma in response to a question by Dr Mohammad Jawed in Lok Sabha.

Under the Scheme, data relating to persons, including children, identified as engaged in the act of begging is collected during surveys and rescue operations undertaken by the Implementing Authorities.

Shri Verma said the Scheme accords special attention to children identified as engaged in the act of begging. Such children are reunited with their families, wherever feasible, or provided appropriate support through Anganwadi Centres and Schools. Children requiring institutional care are produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and linked to Child Care Institutions (CCIs) under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Minister further stated in the House.

As on 30 June 2026, a total of 2,824 children have been identified, rescued and rehabilitated under the Scheme. Of these, 1,549 children have been reunited with their parents/families, 309 children have been admitted to Anganwadi Centres, 290 children have been produced before the Child Welfare Committee, and 676 children have been admitted to Schools.

The Government has stated that age-wise and gender-wise data of identified children are not maintained separately under the Scheme.

The Government is not implementing any scheme specifically for children engaged in the act of begging. However, the SMILE – Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging contains specific provisions for the identification, rescue, rehabilitation and mainstreaming of children engaged in begging through family reunification, admission to schools and Anganwadi Centres, or institutional care through Child Welfare Committees and Child Care Institutions, wherever required.

The Scheme has specific and focused provisions for rehabilitation of children engaged in begging. Its framework provides for 100 per cent rehabilitation and mainstreaming of children surveyed, profiled and rescued from beggary.

The Government has further stated that, since the ongoing SMILE Scheme has a specific focus on the rehabilitation and mainstreaming of children rescued from beggary, there is no need for a separate scheme for this purpose.

As per the State-wise details, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number with 927 children identified and rehabilitated, followed by Chandigarh with 313, Delhi with 233, Maharashtra with 208 and Andhra Pradesh with 191.

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