**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4151 regarding the implementation of Garima Grehs as of August 19, 2025. It details the state-wise distribution of Garima Grehs, funding under the SMILE scheme, and support for the mental health of residents. The document also addresses the status of establishing new Garima Grehs and awareness initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Garima Greh Overview:**
* Currently, 18 Garima Grehs are supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) across 15 States/UTs.
* Approval for 3 new Garima Grehs has been sanctioned for the financial year 2025-26.
* **Establishment of New Grehs:**
* Proposals from NGOs/CSOs have been forwarded to 14 States/UTs, awaiting recommendations.
* No proposals have been received from 8 States/UTs.
* **Residents and Facilities:**
* A total of 429 people are currently staying in DoSJE-supported Garima Grehs.
* Facilities include shelter, food, medical care, yoga, meditation, and recreational activities.
* Support is provided for capacity building, skill development, and counselling.
* Life skill training is provided for mainstreaming with respectable livelihoods.
* Rights of TG persons are safeguarded and protected from atrocities.
* **Financial Information:**
* Rs 8.25 Crores have been released and utilized under the SMILE Scheme.
* **Mental Health Support:**
* Each Garima Greh has a counsellor to provide mental health support and counselling.
* Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) offers 24/7 telemental health services via helpline 14416.
* **Awareness Initiatives:**
* State Governments/UT Administrations conduct publicity for the SMILE Scheme and awareness campaigns among the Transgender Community.
* **State-wise Distribution:**
* Andhra Pradesh (01), Assam (01), Bihar (01), Chhattisgarh (01), Delhi (01), Gujarat (01), Karnataka (01), Madhya Pradesh (01), Maharashtra (03), Odisha (01), Punjab (01), Rajasthan (01), Tamil Nadu (01), Uttar Pradesh (01), West Bengal (02)
* Approval for new Garima Greh in Jharkhand, Manipur and Madhya Pradesh has been given during financial year 2025-26.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Transgender Community:**
* *Impact:* Access to shelter, essential amenities, skill development, mental health support, and protection of rights.
* *Action Required:* Engage with state-level awareness programs to utilize available resources and facilities.
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for publicizing the SMILE Scheme and raising awareness among the Transgender Community.
* *Action Required:* Provide recommendations for pending proposals to establish Garima Grehs and implement awareness campaigns.
* **Non-Governmental Organizations/Civil Society Organizations:**
* *Impact:* Potential partners in establishing and managing Garima Grehs.
* *Action Required:* Follow up on submitted proposals and coordinate with relevant State Governments/UT Administrations.
Key Entities Referenced
Garima Grehs: Shelter homes providing support and resources to transgender persons, including food, medical care, and skill development.
SMILE Scheme: A scheme under which funds are allocated and utilized by the Garima Grehs to support transgender persons.
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE): The government department supporting the Garima Grehs initiative.
Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS): An initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide free telemental health services, including a 24x7 helpline (14416), to individuals in need, including transgender persons.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW): The ministry that launched the Tele MANAS initiative.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the states with a Garima Greh.
Maharashtra: One of the states with multiple Garima Grehs (3).
Uttar Pradesh: One of the states with a Garima Greh.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4151
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF GARIMA GREHS
4151. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details and total number of Garima Grehs in the country, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government is aware that many States have still not set up such Grehs, if so, the
reasons for the delay;
(c) the total number of people are currently staying in these shelter homes, and the kind of
facilities are available there;
(d) the amount of funds that have been allocated and used under the SMILE scheme for these
homes; and
>
(e) whether the Ministry has taken any steps to support the mental health of the residents and
whether there are any plans to hold awareness camps at the district level to empower them and if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a): The Garima Grehs supported by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE)
in the country, State-wise is at Annexure.
(b): At present, 18 Garima Grehs are supported by DoSJE in 15 States/UTs. Approval for setting
up 03 new Garima Grehs have been sanctioned during the current financial year 2025-
26. Proposals for setting up Garima Grehs received from Non Governmental
Organisations,/Civil Society Organisations have been forwarded to 14 States/UTs, whose
recommendation are awaited. No proposals for setting up Garima Grehs have been received from
08 States/UTs.
(c): Total number of people currently staying in Garima Grehs supported by DoSJE is 429.The Garima Greh provides shelter to transgender persons with amenities like food,
medical care, yoga, meditation and recreational facilities. Besides, it provides support for the
capacity-building/skill development and counselling to transgender persons. The residents of
Garima Greh are not only provided with safe residential area with all necessary facilities but are
provided with life skill training as well so that when they leave the shelter they could be
mainstreamed with respectable mode of livelihood. Garima Grehs also safeguard the rights of
TG persons and protect them from atrocities.
(d): So far, Rs 8.25 Crores have been released and utilised by the Garima Grehs under SMILE
Scheme.
(e): Each Garima Greh has a Counsellor to provide mental health support and counselling to the
beneficiaries residing in Garima Greh.
Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) is an
initiative launched by Ministry Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in October, 2022 to provide
free Tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock. Under this programme, a
24x7 helpline (14416) has been set up to provide psychosocial support and counseling services to
individuals in need, including Transgender Persons.
State Government/ Union Territory Administration carry out publicity of SMILE Scheme
and awareness among the Transgender Community.ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4151 FOR REPLY ON 19.08.2025 REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION OF GARIMA GREHS ASKED BY SHRI E T MOHAMMED
BASHEER.
The details and total number of Garima Grehs supported by Department of Social Justice and
Empowerment in the country, State-wise is as under:
SI. No. State No. of Garima Grehs
1. Andhra Pradesh 01
2. Assam 01
3. Bihar 01
4, Chhattisgarh 01
5. Delhi 01
6. Gujarat 01
7. Karnataka ~ 01
8. Madhya Pradesh 01
9. Maharashtra 03
10. Odisha 01
11. Punjab 01
12. Rajasthan 01
13. Tamil Nadu 01
14. Uttar Pradesh 01
15. West Bengal 02
Total 18
Approval for new Garima Greh in Jharkhand, Manipur and Madhya Pradesh has been given
during financial year 2025-26.
3K KKK