SMILE Scheme

The Indian government recently launched a 15-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme under the SMILE scheme.
Objective: To empower transgender persons economically and make them self-reliant through skill-building and entrepreneurship.

About SMILE Scheme

SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
It is a Central Sector Scheme with two main sub-schemes:

Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging

The scheme adopts an umbrella approach covering welfare, rehabilitation, and empowerment of transgender persons and persons engaged in begging.

Key Features of the SMILE Scheme

Education Support: Scholarships for transgender students from Class IX up to postgraduate levels.
Skill Development & Livelihood: Implemented through the PM-DAKSH scheme, facilitating skill training and employment.
Healthcare: Composite Medical Health Package converging with PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat), including support for Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries in selected hospitals.
Housing & Rehabilitation: ‘Garima Greh’ provides housing with food, clothing, recreation, skill development, and medical support for transgender persons and beggars.
Protection Mechanism: Transgender Protection Cells in every state ensure monitoring, timely registration, investigation, and prosecution of offenses against transgender persons.
Information & Helpline: A National Portal and Helpline provide necessary information and support services to the target communities.

Nodal Ministry

The scheme is implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Source: PIB

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