Centre Reviews Welfare, Rehabilitation Measures for Transgender Persons and Beggars
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment on Wednesday held a high-level review meeting on the welfare and rehabilitation of transgender persons and beggars, with a focus on making major metropolitan cities beggar-free. The meeting was chaired by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre here.

The discussions centred on achieving beggar-free status in six metropolitan cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad—through close coordination among Municipal Corporations, Urban Local Bodies, State Social Welfare Departments, Central Ministries and other key stakeholders.

The meeting was attended in hybrid mode by representatives from municipal bodies and social welfare departments of Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, along with officials from various central ministries and stakeholder organisations.

During the meeting, the Secretary of the Department informed that concerns had earlier been flagged at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the continued engagement of transgender persons in beggary at traffic signals in major cities, despite the enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the Rules notified in 2020. In view of safety, dignity and rehabilitation concerns, it was decided to initially focus on the six identified metros.

The Government highlighted key initiatives such as the Equal Opportunity Policy for Transgender Persons (2024), the National Transgender Portal, issuance of Transgender Identity Cards and Ayushman Cards, establishment of Garima Grehs, and implementation of the SMILE Scheme covering both transgender persons and beggars. Progress under the nationwide “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” campaign, covering 181 cities in its first phase, was also reviewed.

Presentations were made on challenges in rehabilitating transgender persons engaged in beggary and on the status of the SMILE (Beggary) Scheme, currently operational in Delhi and Hyderabad and proposed to be expanded to other cities.

The Minister directed States to undertake a one-month intensive drive in collaboration with NGOs, focusing on skill development, employment and rehabilitation of persons engaged in beggary at traffic signals. He stressed the need for coordinated and sustained efforts by all stakeholders to ensure a safe, secure and dignified life for vulnerable sections, adding that cities achieving beggar-free status may be incentivised.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of collective commitment to social inclusion, empowerment and the goal of creating beggar-free cities.