Srinagar, April 20: The Government of India’s SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme is emerging as a key welfare initiative that can significantly benefit transgender persons and other vulnerable groups in Jammu & Kashmir, provided awareness and implementation are strengthened in the region.
Launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the scheme focuses on two highly marginalised sections—transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging—through a comprehensive framework that combines healthcare, education, shelter, and livelihood support.
Officials said the scheme is aligned with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which guarantees protection from discrimination and access to public services. Under SMILE, transgender persons in J&K can avail scholarships from Class IX to post-graduation, skill development programmes under national initiatives, and financial support to pursue livelihoods or entrepreneurship.
A key benefit is healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat TG Plus, which provides up to ₹5 lakh annually. This includes access to general healthcare as well as specialised gender-affirming treatments at empanelled hospitals—an important intervention for a community that has historically faced barriers to medical care.
The scheme also provides for “Garima Greh” shelter homes, offering safe accommodation, food, medical assistance, and skill-building support. While several such homes are operational across India, stakeholders in J&K say expanding these facilities locally could offer critical support to transgender persons facing homelessness or social exclusion.
For individuals engaged in begging—a reality linked to poverty, lack of opportunity, and social distress—the SMILE sub-scheme provides a pathway to rehabilitation. Through local administration and urban bodies, beneficiaries can be identified, provided counselling, sheltered, and trained in employable skills such as tailoring, carpentry, and other trades. The scheme also links them to self-help groups and financial institutions to enable sustainable income generation.
As of March 2026, over 31,000 individuals have been identified nationwide under the beggary rehabilitation component, with nearly 10,000 successfully rehabilitated, indicating the scheme’s growing outreach.
Experts note that for J&K, where unemployment and social vulnerability remain pressing challenges, effective implementation of SMILE could provide a structured pathway for inclusion. However, they stress the need for greater awareness, institutional coordination, and outreach so that eligible beneficiaries can access these provisions.
The scheme, with an overall allocation of ₹390 crore for 2021–2026, represents a shift towards integrated welfare—moving beyond short-term relief to long-term empowerment.
Officials emphasise that if implemented effectively in Jammu & Kashmir, SMILE can help bring marginalised individuals into the mainstream, offering dignity, opportunity, and a chance at sustainable livelihoods.
