SMILE Project Team Members
SMILE Project – Key Highlights
Reporting Period: April–September 2026
SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise is being implemented by Association for Rural Development (ARD) in collaboration with Nellore Municipal Corporation. Smile Report
The project focuses on identification, rescue, shelter, rehabilitation and social reintegration of vulnerable and destitute persons, including persons engaged in begging.
Key services include shelter, food, clothing, counselling, healthcare referrals, family restoration, livelihood support and employment linkages.
171 persons were surveyed/identified during the reporting period.
80 persons received shelter support, while 34 persons were presently provided shelter.
32 persons were facilitated to return to their homes/families.
28 rescue and rehabilitation cases were handled by the project team. Smile Report
11 job placements were facilitated, supporting beneficiaries to move towards dignified and sustainable livelihoods.
7 persons were supported through catering-related livelihood opportunities.
2 hospital referrals and 1 referral to Mahila Pranganam were facilitated.
Several beneficiaries successfully stopped begging and moved into employment/self-employment, including construction work, hotel work, security services, tea vending and banana-leaf cutting. Smile Report
The project provided support for identity documents, welfare schemes, family tracing and social reintegration.
The SMILE Team played an important role in providing counselling, motivation, shelter care and livelihood linkages.
Field experience highlights the need for an additional dedicated Women’s Shelter Home in Nellore.
The proposed women’s shelter would provide safe accommodation, counselling, healthcare, personal care, skill development, livelihood support and family restoration. Smile Report
Overall, the project has established an effective field-to-shelter rehabilitation mechanism, promoting dignity, self-reliance and social inclusion among marginalized persons in Nellore