From Streets to Shelter: Srinagar’s Mission to End Begging Gains Ground
Under Centre’s SMILE scheme, administration launches major rehabilitation drive across city
700 rehabilitated so far; over 1,500 identified for counselling, support and reintegration
Srinagar: In the bustling markets of Srinagar, where tourists stroll along Polo View and commuters crowd city intersections, a quiet but determined social transformation is underway. The district administration, in coordination with the police and Social Welfare Department, has intensified efforts to make Srinagar a “begging-free city” under the Government of India’s SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme.
Officials said the initiative is not merely aimed at removing beggars from public spaces, but at restoring dignity, providing rehabilitation and reconnecting vulnerable individuals with society.
According to officials, nearly 700 persons engaged in begging have already been rehabilitated through counselling, temporary shelter, healthcare support and livelihood assistance, while more than 1,500 others have been identified across Srinagar for further intervention.
A senior official in the district administration said the campaign is being carried out jointly by the administration, Srinagar Police and the Social Welfare Department through regular rescue drives, awareness campaigns and field surveys.
“Our objective is humanitarian, not punitive. Many of these individuals are victims of poverty, addiction, abandonment or exploitation. We are trying to bring them into the rehabilitation framework and help them live with dignity,” the official said.
He said several rescued persons have been shifted to shelter homes and rehabilitation centres where they are being provided counselling, medical care and skill-based support.
Officials said special teams are visiting major public places, shrines, markets and traffic junctions where begging was frequently reported. “We are identifying genuine cases, especially elderly persons, women and children who require immediate social support,” another official said.
The administration has also appealed to the public to cooperate with the campaign by discouraging organised begging networks and instead informing authorities about vulnerable persons needing assistance.
A senior police officer associated with the drive said the initiative is helping improve public spaces while also addressing deeper social concerns. “This is not about criminalising poverty. The focus is rehabilitation and protection, particularly of children and vulnerable people who are often pushed into begging,” he said.
Locals have largely welcomed the initiative, saying the growing number of beggars in busy commercial areas had become a concern in recent years.
“There was a visible increase in begging around markets and hospitals. Some children were also seen begging late into the evening. If the government is rehabilitating them properly, it is a good step,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a shopkeeper in Lal Chowk.
Another resident, Shabir Ahmad of Rajbagh, said the campaign should continue consistently. “Removing people from roads alone is not enough. They should be given employment opportunities and proper care so they don’t return to the streets,” he said.
Officials said the SMILE scheme envisages long-term rehabilitation through education, skill development, shelter and healthcare support, particularly for homeless persons, child beggars and destitute individuals.
The administration has urged citizens, traders and religious institutions to support the effort so that rehabilitation, rather than dependence on alms, becomes the pathway forward for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
