Chandigarh, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Government has stepped up efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate homeless persons and individuals engaged in begging through the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme, with the initiative currently being implemented in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development is implementing the programme under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, in line with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of an inclusive and compassionate Punjab.
Sharing details of the ongoing drive, Dr. Baljit Kaur said a survey launched in Amritsar in March 2026 has identified 422 persons engaged in begging so far. Of these, 32 have already been rehabilitated. The group includes eight people reunited with their families, two linked with old-age pension benefits, four provided Aadhaar cards, one given assistance under the Ashirwad Scheme, four shifted to old-age homes and 13 connected with employment or livelihood opportunities. Another 54 individuals have received counselling.
In Patiala, 168 persons have been identified, with rehabilitation efforts currently underway. Surveys in Ludhiana and Jalandhar are scheduled to begin during the second week of September.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said the SMILE Scheme is aimed at much more than simply eliminating begging.
“Our mission is to restore dignity, security and self-reliance to every individual in need by connecting them with social security schemes, healthcare, counselling, skill development, education, employment and self-employment opportunities, enabling them to become productive members of society,” she said.
Under the initiative, identification and surveys are conducted in coordination with concerned departments and the local administration. Individuals requiring immediate assistance are shifted to safe locations, where they are provided counselling, medical care and other essential support.
Where families can be traced, individuals are reunited with them in accordance with established procedures. Those without family support are connected with suitable rehabilitation services.
The campaign involves coordination among district administrations, Municipal Corporations, local government institutions, Police and Health Departments, skill development agencies and other stakeholder departments to ensure that eligible persons receive appropriate assistance.
Dr. Baljit Kaur also appealed to citizens not to encourage begging by giving cash to people on the streets. Instead, she urged the public to help vulnerable individuals access government rehabilitation and social welfare services.
She said collective efforts by the government and society would be crucial to realising the vision of a begging-free, self-reliant and dignified “Rangla Punjab.”
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