SMILE’ is a Central sector scheme to provide welfare and rehabilitation of…
2022
SMILE’ is a Central sector scheme to provide welfare and rehabilitation of transgenders and people engaged in the act of begging. This is launched by which Ministry?
- A.
Ministry of Education
- B.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- C.
Ministry of Ayush
- D.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Attempted by 8 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
A Central Sector Scheme is funded and implemented entirely by the Union Government, and welfare schemes for a specific marginalized social group are administered by the Union ministry whose mandate covers that group's social empowerment and rehabilitation.
Application
'SMILE' stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. Its two sub-schemes target (i) the welfare and rehabilitation of transgender persons and (ii) persons engaged in the act of begging. Both groups fall under the social-justice and social-empowerment mandate, so the scheme is administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Cross-check / Contrast
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: holds the mandate for welfare of transgender persons and destitute/beggars, matching SMILE's stated objectives.
Ministry of Education: handles schooling, higher education and literacy, not rehabilitation of marginalized social groups.
Ministry of Ayush: handles AYUSH systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy), unrelated to this scheme.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: handles vocational skilling programmes generally, not the targeted social rehabilitation that defines SMILE.
Hence the scheme is launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.