An important initiative has been taken up under the ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)’ scheme of the Central Government to make the city of Ahmedabad beggar-free. Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchanidhi Pani, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation officials, Social Security Department and Police Department officials were present in the review meeting held today on June 26, 2026 under the chairmanship of Mona Khandhar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. In this meeting, a comprehensive plan for comprehensive rehabilitation of people involved in begging in Ahmedabad city was discussed.

In this meeting, there was a discussion on setting up temporary shelters for beggars and providing them with services like health services, skill training, employment under the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons involved in begging activities. Under the SMILE project, a grant of Rs. 55 lakh per shelter home of 50 KPCTs will be provided by the Government of India. It is planned to set up in Ahmedabad. All the beggars who take shelter at sadar almshouses in Vaghu will also be ensured the benefits of the eligible assistance schemes of the government.

In the future also, through concerted efforts of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, City Police and other allied government departments, to make the city pressure-free and clean, to free the children from the clutches of this begging profession, to reunite those who are separated from their families and are currently living on begging with their families, to provide shelter with all the basic facilities to the aged and infirm, and to empower And the multifaceted objectives like providing employment through skill building to the employable people were discussed in detail.