Context
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is expected to launch a SMILE Scheme for the rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging and for providing support to transgender persons.
About SMILE Scheme
- It includes two sub-schemes – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’ and ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
- Coverage
- This umbrella scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for both transgender persons and persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
- It is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, education, skill development, economic linkages etc with the support of State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and institutions and others. The Scheme is expected to be launched soon.
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About transgender person
- “Transgender person” means a person whose gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes trans-man or trans-woman (whether or not such person has undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery or hormone therapy or laser therapy or such other therapy), person with intersex variations, genderqueer and person having such socio-cultural identities as Kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta.
- Welfare measures for transgender
- GarimaGreh: It is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to provide safe and secure shelter to transgender persons in need. National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) is setting up 13 pilots of Garima Greh (Shelter Homes) for Transgender Persons.
- As part of the pilot project, 10 cities have been identified by the #government to set up these shelter homes
- The purpose of the Shelter Home is to provide shelter to Transgender persons, with basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and recreational facilities. Besides, it will provide support for the capacity-building/skill development of persons in the Community, which will enable them to lead a life of dignity and respect.
- ‘Sweekruti’(A Scheme for Promotion of Transgender Equality & Justice)
- The Government of Odisha formulated an umbrella scheme ‘Sweekruti’ to secure the rights of transgender persons and ensure equitable justice.
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:
- It recognised the third gender as the other gender and provided them with the following rights.
- Non-discrimination against a Transgender Person in educational institutions, employment, healthcare services etc.
- Recognition of identity of Transgender Persons and confer upon them right to self-perceived gender identity.
- Provision of the right of residence with parents and immediate family members.
- Provision for the formulation of welfare schemes and programmes for education, social security and health of Transgender Persons.
- Provision for National Council for Transgender Persons to advise, monitor and evaluate measures for the protection of their rights.
About Beggar
- The Bombay Act defines a “beggar” as anyone “having no visible means of subsistence, and wandering about or remaining in any public place in such condition or manner, as makes it likely that the person doing so exists by soliciting or receiving alms”.
- “Begging” under the Act includes “soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether or not under any pretence of singing, dancing, fortune-telling, performing or offering any article for sale”.
- Various initiatives
- Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) to create a safe and secure environment for children in need of care and protection including those children who are found begging.
- Under ICPS, financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances, for setting up and maintenance of various types of Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
- The Scheme provides institutional care through CCIs. As a rehabilitative measure in these CCIs, children are provided age-appropriate education either within the institution or outside in a formal education system through convergence with other schemes and programs of the Government or Civil Society.
- SAHAYA(Scheme for Protection, Care and Rehabilitation of Beggars)
- The Odisha government had launched SAHAYA- an integrated scheme with the aims of ensuring protection, care and rehabilitation of beggars.
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Source: TH
