REASI: In a significant step towards social rehabilitation and inclusive development, the Deputy Commissioner Reasi Nidhi Malik today inaugurated the SMILE Shelter Home under the SMILE Beggary Scheme at Didi Bhangal-Katra.
The initiative aims at comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging, marking the first such Shelter Home in the Jammu Division and the second in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir after Srinagar.
The Shelter Home has been established under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Beggary Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme is being implemented by the Social Welfare Department in collaboration with Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Malik stated that the inauguration marks the formal beginning of a focused and structured effort to address the issue of beggary in Katra and across the district. She noted that while surveys and preparatory work had been conducted earlier, the opening of the Shelter Home signals a new phase of coordinated action on the ground.
Emphasizing the importance of sustained implementation, she stated that meaningful change would be achieved through the dedicated efforts of field staff and volunteers, supported by active monitoring from the district administration. She also appreciated the role of Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society in making the Shelter Home operational.
The Deputy Commissioner inspected the Shelter Home facilities, including residential rooms and common areas, and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made for the beneficiaries. She also reviewed the ongoing skill development activities being conducted at the centre. Representatives of Prayas Sansthan informed that the inmates are being imparted training in tailoring, cutting, and LED bulb manufacturing, aimed at equipping them with practical skills for self-employment and ensuring a dignified livelihood.
Among those present on the occasion were DDC Member Jagjeevan Lal; Amod K. Kanth, IPS (Retd.)-Founder & Mentor, Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society, Chief Education Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, and other district officers.