*422 Persons Engaged in Begging Identified in Amritsar and 168 in Patiala; Rehabilitation Drive Gains Momentum*
*Punjab Government Committed to Reintegrating Every Needy Person into the Social Mainstream under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann's Leadership: Dr Baljit Kaur*
Chandigarh, September 10:
Reaffirming the Punjab Government's commitment to ensuring a life of dignity for the most vulnerable sections of society, the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, is implementing the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate homeless persons and individuals engaged in begging. The initiative is currently being undertaken in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to build an inclusive and compassionate Punjab.
Sharing details, Dr Baljit Kaur said that a survey launched in Amritsar in March 2026 has so far identified 422 persons engaged in begging. Of these, 32 individuals have already been successfully rehabilitated—including 8 reunited with their families, 2 linked to old-age pension benefits, 4 provided Aadhaar cards, 1 extended assistance under the Ashirwad Scheme, 4 shifted to old-age homes, and 13 connected with employment or livelihood opportunities. In addition, 54 individuals have received counselling. She further informed that 168 persons have been identified in Patiala, where rehabilitation efforts are progressing swiftly, while surveys in Ludhiana and Jalandhar are scheduled to commence during the second week of September.
The Cabinet Minister said that the objective of the SMILE Scheme extends far beyond 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.
Dr Baljit Kaur explained that under the scheme, identification and surveys are carried out in close coordination with the concerned departments and local administration. Those requiring immediate assistance are shifted to safe locations where they receive counselling, medical care and other essential support. Wherever families are traced, individuals are reunited with them in accordance with established procedures, while those without family support are linked with appropriate rehabilitation services.
She further stated that the campaign is being implemented through close coordination with the district administration, Municipal Corporations, local government institutions, Police Department, Health Department, skill development agencies and other stakeholder departments, ensuring that no deserving person is left without assistance.
Appealing to the public, Dr Baljit Kaur urged citizens not to encourage begging by offering cash on the streets. Instead, she called upon them to help such individuals access the Government's rehabilitation and social welfare services. She emphasised that only through collective efforts of the Government and society can Punjab realise the vision of a begging-free, self-reliant and dignified "Rangla Punjab."
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