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Time of India
11-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Indore shows the way to a beggar-free city at national workshop
Indore: Indore, which earned the 'beggar-free city' tag, showcased its plan and execution to senior officials from around 100 cities in a national-level workshop on Friday. The social justice department also assured support to empower marginalised artisans, who gave up begging and are now making 19 product items in Indore, by providing them with a platform for global exposure and sales of their products through e-marketing. The one-day workshop and training programme, focused on the 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging' under the SMILE sub-scheme, was chaired by Amit Yadav, Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. It saw participation from nodal officers and representatives of implementing agencies from across India. Rupali Jain, from an Indore-based NGO involved in the 'beggar-free city' campaign, informed the gathering about their plans and execution. This included extending care to persons with mental and other disabilities, bedridden and elderly individuals who were seeking alms to feed themselves, along with identifying and taking action against 'beggar-gangs'. Additionally, children rescued from begging were sent to schools, and homeless kids were provided shelters in different centres in Indore. Many rescued individuals are now making 19 products that were showcased in the workshop. Senior officials from the social justice department assured local officials of an online platform to sell these products through its 'TULIP' (Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme). The goal of TULIP is to empower marginalised artisans by providing them with a platform for global exposure and sales of their products through e-marketing. In the workshop, Additional Secretary Karalin Khongwar Deshmukh delivered the welcome speech, followed by addresses from Principal Secretary Sonali Ponkshe Wayanganakar. Indore Collector Asheesh Singh, IMC Commissioner Shivam Verma, and ISCDL CEO Divyank Singh also marked their presence. The workshop featured sessions including that on 'Mobilisation/Relief and Initial Rehabilitation' and 'Self-employment and skill development'. In a panel discussion, representatives from Kerala, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan presented models implemented in their respective states. A presentation was also given on the revised guidelines of "SMILE-B", and feedback was collected from officials and NGO representatives.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
5000 get a second chance in life with SMILE
Indore: Indore, which was selected under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Project last year, has so far recorded the rehabilitation of around 5,000 beggars. So far, Union govt granted funds of Rs 24 lakhs, while the Indore district administration also provided financial assistance of Rs 18.5 lakh to support this initiative that made Indore a beggar-free city. Rupali Jain, who runs an NGO enrolled under the SMILE Project, said that after launching the initiative, around 5,000 beggars were rehabilitated, while 2,578 beggars were provided training in vocational courses. "The funds were used in providing shelters to all those who were found begging and were homeless," she said, adding that an entire infrastructure was created to achieve the desired goal. "We employed a team of rescuers along with those who provide training to the inmates," she said, adding that with the help of the local administration, IMC, and other departments concerned, the plan to make Indore a beggar-free city was very well executed. "Most of the funds granted in this drive were used in transportation, food, hygiene, and other things as part of the shelter and care of the inmates," she said.
