Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is launching a comprehensive initiative to identify, rescue & rehabilitate beggars through skill development & shelter facilities
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a significant move towards achieving a beggar-free state capital, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to implement the Centre’s SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme this year. This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, features a sub-scheme dedicated to the holistic rehabilitation of individuals involved in begging. It aims to identify, rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate beggars into society through a systematic approach.
Initially launched in 2022 across 50 cities during its first phase, the scheme is now set to expand to Bhubaneswar and Puri, Cuttack, and Jajpur in its second phase. The BMC is currently in the process of selecting a recognized agency to conduct a new survey for the identification and rehabilitation of beggars. A shelter home with a capacity of 50 beds will be established under this scheme, and skill development training will be offered at the center to provide sustainable livelihood support.
The implementation of this initiative will involve various stakeholders, including government departments, non-governmental organizations, social activists, and the community. The civic body has projected an initial budget of Rs 30 lakh for the first phase of the scheme in Bhubaneswar.
The SMILE scheme will be in harmony with the state government’s Sahaya initiative, which focuses on the protection, care, and rehabilitation of beggars and the underprivileged through the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department.
Under the Sahaya initiative, the BMC has already recognized approximately 1,700 beggars within the city and has set up five rehabilitation centers, each with a capacity of 100 beds. This comprehensive strategy aims to offer a lasting solution to urban begging while fostering dignity and self-sufficiency among the marginalized populations in the city.
