SMILE Scheme Seminar: DoSJE and World Bank on Beggary
Why in the news
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) and the World Bank jointly ran a hybrid seminar on 25 April 2025 in New Delhi to plan strategies for rehabilitating beggars, the homeless and the destitute.
Key facts
- Title: ‘Hard to Reach Population – SMILE (Beggary)’.
- 18,000 people identified under SMILE; 1,612 rehabilitated, per Economic Advisor Ajay Srivastava.
- Focus: framework development, inter-sectoral coordination and knowledge sharing.
- Also discussed: best practices, community interventions and digital tools.
About SMILE
- Full form: Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
- A DoSJE flagship for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging.
- Promotes dignified livelihoods and social inclusion with NGOs, ULBs and state governments.
About the World Bank
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1944 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| President | Ajay Banga |
| Members | 189 countries |
| Institutions | IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, ICSID |
Exam angle
- SMILE expansion and the ministry involved are common questions.
- World Bank institutions list and president.