Awareness programme on SMILE scheme highlights rehabilitation and livelihood support

A one-day Community Mobilization and Awareness Programme on the SMILE Scheme was held at Wahengbam Leikai School Community Hall, Imphal West District. The programme was organised by the Social Upliftment Association, a voluntary organisation, as part of the ongoing implementation of the SMILE Scheme in Imphal West.
The SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises) is an initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, aimed at the rehabilitation and social inclusion of the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of society.
The programme highlighted a broader understanding of “begging” and “vagrancy” beyond the conventional definition under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. As per Entry 15 of the Concurrent List, vagrancy refers to the condition of a person without a stable home or livelihood, compelled to move from place to place. In the present socio-economic context of Manipur, this definition extends to survival-based informal activities undertaken by individuals struggling to secure even basic necessities.
The programme was attended by around 50 participants, including street hawkers, beggars, fortune tellers, porters, persons with disabilities, elderly persons, widows, and others who largely survive on the streets and in the main market areas of Imphal City. Discussions focused on participants’ lived realities, rehabilitation needs, and livelihood challenges.
The programme was graced by W. Birahari Singh, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Keisam Pradipkumar, Chairperson, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), and Th. Pabitra, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Imphal West, as dignitaries on the dais.