Rehabilitating Beggars from 30+ Indian Sites by 2026 – Central Scheme

In a well-intentioned move to tackle public begging and uplift marginalized citizens, the central government has embarked on an ambitious drive to rehabilitate beggars from over 30 major religious, tourism and heritage destinations across India by the year 2026.

Targeting Major Religious and Leisure Destinations

10 key religious pilgrimage centers frequented by millions like Ayodhya, Omkareshwar, Kangra, Somnath etc have been taken up in the first phase. Additionally, around 12 popular tourism magnets and over 5 historical cities also feature among the 30+ iconic sites identified pan-India for focused beggar rehabilitation efforts over 2023-26 timeframe.

Authorities have initiated extensive surveys to ascertain reasons, requirements and prepare tailored assisting plans leveraging central support under the ministry’s ‘SMILE’ scheme, a 3-year Rs 365 crore rehabilitation program for marginalized sections launched in 2022.

Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises (SMILE)

Central backing for the beggar rehabilitation campaign at designated areas comes via the ministry’s umbrella ‘SMILE’ scheme initiated in 2022. Beyond beggary issues, it channels government funding support also for transgender community upliftment across 4 key interventions:

1. Education
2. Livelihoods
3. Health & Social Protection
4. Financial Inclusion

For beggars specifically, current action plan revolves around:

• Conducting extensive surveys to identify numbers and needs
• Temporarily placing them in shelter homes
• Imparting skills training for employment
• Arranging jobs for integration and monitoring after placement

Rs 365 crore allocated from union budgets over 5 years will flow from central ministry via states down to city administrations and local agencies on the ground coordinating rehabilitation per locally customized plans.

Objective Behind the Prioritized Approach

While beggary afflicts urban India at large, urgent action targeted at securing these high-attention spots frequented by citizens and foreigners alike, stems from complaints around aggressive soliciting marring visitor experience and religious sanctity.

By championing reform at sensitive cultural emblems like holy Somnath shrine, stunning hill station Kevadia or medieval heritage hub Warangal fort, the drive can also inspire public empathy and localized efforts instead of society turning a blind eye. If successful, the model can potentially be expanded nationwide although that poses a larger challenge.

Crowdsourced Technology to Enhance Implementation & Monitoring

Concurrent focus also lies in systematically enhancing coordination and monitoring of progress through technology tools. A national portal and mobile application is being developed for maintaining a unified central database tracking real-time data relayed by city officers on numbers surveyed, housed, trained, employed etc.

It intends to bring transparency, ensure consistency in rehabilitation quality as per guidelines and allow identification of gaps that need priority resolution. The portal can also display state-wise performance dashboards to institute healthy competition towards achieving the 2026 target.

Role of Local Stakeholders

Uplifting underprivileged citizens sustainably requires collaborative efforts hence municipal bodies have been instructed to partner local temples, mosques, gurudwaras and famous sites besides just the district administration.

For instance in Ayodhya, the Ram Mandir Trust with its resources, popularity and symbolism could amplify endeavors to curb begging in the temple-town area through public outreach programs while providing facilities for rehabilitation of rescued individuals by authorities.

Such participation rooted in community values also furthers public awareness on key factors - from mental health issues to trafficking rackets perpetuating beggary in disguise - so that the stigma attached to begging starts fading gradually when underlying causes are known.

Focus Areas of Current Surveys

Officials currently undertaking data gathering exercises in respective jurisdictions have been advised to capture aspects going beyond just numbers, age and gender. Priority focus must probe aspects like:

• Health issues and disabilities
• Indebtedness trapping families for generations
• Human trafficking for beggary purposes
• Lack of employable skills
• Children forced into begging compromising education
• Interstate organized rackets
• Lack of identity proof hindering affirmative action
• Gender discrimination and abuse

Proposed Rehabilitation Model

Equipped with insights from the survey diagnostics, administrations have been told to prepare area-specific programs aligned to 5 aspects for submitting as part of their action plan to avail funds:

1. Temporary Shelters & Relief – Providing secure, hygienic lodging and food to rescued persons while preparations undergo for training and jobs.

2. Counseling & Medical Care - Trauma counseling plus physical rehabilitation of persons with disabilities or addiction before progressing to next stage.

3. Skill Development & Training – Imparting employable vocational skills via short-term courses based on local trade opportunities.

4. Employment & Entrepreneurship - Facilitating job placements or micro entrepreneurship loans & support for small businesses including follow-up.

5. Reintegration & Monitoring – Assimilating rehabilitated citizens back into society through community participation while monitoring their progress & welfare periodically.

The structured approach thus focuses on enabling sustainable livelihoods for mainstream reintegration rather than short-term handouts alone. Officials are reviewing submitted proposals and funds will be released accordingly.

Potential Impact on Livelihoods & Social Fabric

A reformative societal step encompassing human rights and justice, if implemented earnestly, the drive can positively impact thousands of underprivileged families trapped in inter-generational poverty besides enhancing public spaces.

Mainstreaming citizens at bottom of pyramid into productive workforce also advances national progress, raising per capita incomes. The cascading social gains meanwhile are harder to quantify but vital such as stopping human trafficking chains exploiting the vulnerable.

By spurring public conversations challenging age-old taboos, the rehabilitative model can gradually help evolve India’s social fabric into a more inclusive, empathetic and egalitarian version aligned to the 21st century.