India, Aug. 10 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
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 re...