Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards making the state capital beggar-free, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to roll out the Centre’s SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme this year.
The initiative, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, includes a sub-scheme for the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging. The objective is to identify, rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate beggars into mainstream society through a structured approach.
Launched in 2022 across 50 cities in the first phase, the scheme will now be extended to Bhubaneswar, along with Puri, Cuttack, and Jajpur, in its second phase.
The BMC is in the process of appointing a recognised agency to carry out a fresh survey for the identification and rehabilitation of beggars. A 50-bed shelter home will be established under the scheme, and skill development training will be provided at the centre to ensure long-term livelihood support.
Implementation will involve multiple stakeholders, including government departments, NGOs, social activists, and the public. The civic body has estimated an initial expenditure of Rs 30 lakh for the first phase of the scheme in Bhubaneswar.
The SMILE scheme will also align with the state government’s Sahaya initiative, which aims at the protection, care, and rehabilitation of beggars and the destitute through the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department.
As part of the Sahaya initiative, the BMC has already identified around 1,700 beggars within city limits and established five 100-bed rehabilitation centres.
The integrated approach is expected to provide a sustainable solution to urban begging while promoting dignity and self-reliance among the city’s marginalized communities.
