IMPLEMENTATION OF SMILE AND SHRESHTA SCHEME

Context:- The implementation of the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) and Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)was reviewed recently.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SMILE,IMPLEMENTATION OF SMILE

About Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):-

It is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It is a Central Sector Scheme.
Objective: for the purpose of providing seats for the meritorious SC boys and girls in the best private residential schools in the country.
Every year, it is expected that about (3000) students would be selected for admission in Class 9 and Class 11 under the scheme.
- Admission will be provided in Class 9 and Class 11 of CBSE-affiliated private schools.
Selection process: The selection will be done through a transparent mechanism which is known as National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).
- It will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission in classes 9th and 11th.
- NTA: it is a premier, specialist, an autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.
  - It was established as an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testing organization under the Societies Registration Act (1860) by the Ministry of Education (MoE).
  - It is for conducting efficient, transparent, and international standardized tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admission to premier higher education.

About Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE):-

It is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It is a Central Sector scheme.
Objective: for providing welfare measures to the Transgender community and people engaged in begging.
- It seeks to strengthen and expands the reach of Rights that give necessary legal protection and secured life to the targeted group.
- It keeps in mind the social security required through multiple dimensions of identity, education, medical care, shelter, and occupational opportunities.

This umbrella scheme would cover several comprehensive measures including welfare measures with a focus extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, education, skill development, economic linkages etc.
It will work with the support of State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and institutions and others.
It includes two sub-schemes –
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation for the Welfare of Transgender Persons and
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.

Components of Comprehensive Rehabilitation for the Welfare of Transgender Persons:-

Scholarships for Transgender Students studying in IX and till post-graduation to complete their education.
Skill Development and Livelihood under the PM-DAKSH scheme.
Composite Medical Health package in convergence with PM-JAY to support Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries through selected hospitals
Shelter Homes ‘Garima Greh’, where all the basic facilities (food, clothing, medical support) recreational facilities and skill development opportunities, will be provided.
Transgender Protection Cell will be set up in each state for monitoring cases of offences and ensuring timely registration, investigation and prosecution.

Components of Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging:-

Survey and Identification of beneficiaries by Implementing Agencies.
Outreach work will be done to mobilise the persons engaged in begging to avail services available in Shelter Homes.
Shelter homes will facilitate education for children engaged in the act of Begging.