SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has imposed a ban on begging across Srinagar city and appealed to the public to report any such activity to facilitate rehabilitation under the Centre-sponsored Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme, officials said.
The scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is being actively enforced in the district with a focus on rehabilitation, social support and reintegration into society rather than punitive action.
To raise awareness about the ban, the administration has deployed mobile publicity vans across Srinagar. Through public announcements, residents are being informed that begging is prohibited and are being encouraged to assist authorities in identifying individuals engaged in the activity.
According to officials, more than 1,000 individuals involved in begging have been rehabilitated in Srinagar over the past two years. Depending on their age and circumstances, they have been accommodated in old-age homes, shelter homes and juvenile care institutions.
Officials said a significant number of those rescued and rehabilitated were children. Juveniles found begging are being provided protection, counselling, educational support and access to various welfare schemes through the established rehabilitation framework.
The administration stated that the campaign aims to address the increasing presence of beggars, particularly children, at markets, traffic junctions, roadsides and tourist destinations across Srinagar. Officials noted that many such children are vulnerable to exploitation and require institutional care and support.
The initiative has received support from residents, many of whom welcomed the administration’s efforts to curb begging and safeguard vulnerable children. Citizens expressed concern over the growing presence of juvenile beggars in public spaces and said rehabilitation offers a more sustainable solution.
The district administration has urged people not to encourage begging by giving money on the streets. Instead, residents have been asked to immediately inform the Srinagar district administration or designated SMILE Scheme officials whenever they come across any person engaged in begging anywhere in the district.
Officials said awareness drives, rescue operations and rehabilitation measures will continue across Srinagar to ensure social protection, child welfare and the successful reintegration of vulnerable individuals into mainstream society.
