The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, established in India by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 1999, aims to create an inclusive society that empowers individuals with disabilities to live independently and with dignity. Its mission includes enhancing the capacity of persons with disabilities and providing a range of support services through various schemes, such as daycare, health insurance, and vocational training. The Trust emphasizes working with local organizations to ensure the delivery of these services across the country.

1. The National Trust for the Welfare of
Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy,
Mental Retardation and Multiple
Disabilities.
1999
By NIDHEESHA CK

2. INTRODUCTION
The National Trust is a statutory body of
the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Government of India, set
up under the “National Trust for the
Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple
Disabilities” Act (Act 44 of 1999).

3. Vision of The National Trust
An inclusive society which values human diversity and
enables and empowers full participation of Persons with
Disability to live independently with dignity, equal rights
and opportunities.
The National Trust’s vision statement reflects a very
changed India for all Indians and is based on a human
rights, i.e. UNCRPD, approach. The vision statement
focuses NT as being a leader in the disability sector in
India.

4. As laws focusing on Persons with Disability are
changing, focused leadership needs to be
established.
Working through local and regional
registered organizations and local level
committees, the National Trust must make
its vision and focus clear throughout the
country.

5. Mission of the National Trust
The National Trust works towards providing
opportunities for capacity development of Persons
with Disability and their families, fulfilling their
rights, facilitating and promoting the creation of an
enabling environment and an inclusive society.

6. The National Trust’s mission, or
fundamental purpose, is to create an
enabling environment, i.e. providing
opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
through comprehensive support systems
which can also be done by collaborating
with other Ministries, etc., which will lead
towards development of an inclusive
society.

7. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the National Trust in particular are
a. to enable and empower persons with disability to
live as independently and as fully as possible within
and as close to their community as possible;
b. to facilitate the realization of equal opportunities,
protection of rights and full participation of persons
with disability;

8. d. to extend support to its registered
organisations to provide need based
services; and
d. to evolve procedures for appointments
of guardians and trustees for persons with
disabilities.
OBJECTIVES

9. The National Trust works for the
welfare of persons with any of
the following four disabilities
1. Autism
2. Cerebral Palsy
3. Mental Retardation
4. Multiple Disabilities
Disabilities under NTA

10. OUR SCHEMES AT A GLANCE

11. DISHA (Early Intervention and School
Readiness Scheme)
About the Scheme
 Early intervention and school readiness scheme.
 Children in the age group of 0-10 years are eligible.
 Provision of Therapies, trainings and providing support
to family members.
 Day-care facilities to PwD for at least 4 hours in a day.
 Batch size 20 PwDs.
 RO should maintain a ratio of 1:1 for LIG (including BPL)
and above LIG PwDs.
 Scheme will be available in the entire country except J
&K.

12. VIKAAS (Day Care)
About the Scheme
Day care scheme, primarily for enhancing interpersonal and
vocational skills.
Provision of caregiving support to PwD is in centre.
Helps in supporting family members of the PwDs to get some
time during the day to fulfil other responsibilities.
Day-care facilities to PwDs for at least 6 hours in a day along
with age specific activities.
RO should maintain a ratio of 1:1 for LIG (including BPL) and
above LIG PwDs.
Batch size 30 PwDs.
Scheme will be available in the entire country except J &K.

13. SAMARTH (Respite Care)
About the Scheme
 Respite home for orphans or abandoned, families in crisis
and also for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from BPL &
LIG families including destitute
 Opportunities for family members to get respite time in
order to fulfil other responsibilities.
 Group home facility for all age groups with adequate and
quality care service with acceptable living standards
including provision of basic medical care from
professional doctors.

14. GHARAUNDA (Group Home for
Adults)
About the Scheme
 An assured home and minimum quality of care services
throughout the life of the PwD.
 Adequate and quality care service with acceptable living
standards including provision of basic medical care from
professional doctors.
 Vocational activities, pre-vocational activities and
assistance for further training.
 Batch size 20 PwDs.
 RO should maintain a ratio of 1:1 for LIG (including BPL)
and above LIG PwDs.
 Scheme will be available in the entire country except J
&K.

15. NIRAMAYA (Health
Insurance Scheme)
About the Scheme
Affordable Health Insurance to PwDs.
Health insurance cover of up to Rs. 1.0 lakh.
Facility for OPD treatment including the medicines,
pathology, diagnostic tests, etc, Regular Medical checkup
for non-ailing disabled, Dental Preventive Dentistry, Surgery
to prevent further aggravation of disability, Non- Surgical/
Hospitalization, Corrective Surgeries for existing Disability
including congenital disability, Ongoing Therapies to reduce
impact of disability and disability related complications,
Alternative Medicine.

16. No pre-insurance medical tests required.
The scheme will be available in the entire
country except J&K.
Transportation costs.

17. SAHYOGI (Caregiver
training scheme)
About the scheme
 Setting up Care Associate Cells (CACs).
 Provide training and create a skilled workforce of care
associates to provide adequate and nurturing care for
Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and their families who
require it.
 It also seeks to provide parents an opportunity to get
trained in caregiving if they so desire.
 Provide a choice of training through two levels of
courses primary and advanced.

18. GYAN PRABHA (Educational
support)
About the scheme
 Encourage PwDs for pursuing educational/
vocational courses like graduation courses,
professional courses and vocational training leading
to employment or self-employment.
 Provide a specific amount per course to a PwD
which will generally cover fees, transportation,
books, out of pocket expenses (OPEs) etc.

19. PRERNA (Marketing
Assistance)
About the scheme
 Prerna is the marketing assistance scheme with an
objective to create viable and widespread channels
for sale of products and services produced by PwDs.
 This scheme aims at providing funds to participate in
events such as exhibitions, melas, fairs, etc. to sell
the products made by PwDs.
 The scheme also provides an incentive to the
Registered Organisation (RO) based on the sales
turnover of the products.

20.  At least 51% of employees of these work
centres should be PwDs covered under
National Trust Act.
 The National Trust shall fund RO
participation in national, regional, state
and district level events such as fairs,
exhibitions, melas etc. for marketing and
selling products and services prepared by
PwDs.

21. SAMBHAV (Aids and Assisted Devices)
About the scheme
 Setup an additional resource centre, in each city of the
country.
 Collate and collect the Aids, software and other form of
assistive devices developed with a provision of display
and demonstration of the devices.
 Maintaining information, pertaining to aids and assistive
devices present at Sambhav centre, on the National Trust
website.
 Provide information and easy access to devices,
appliances, aids, software etc.

22. BADHTE KADAM (Awareness
and Community Interaction)
About the Scheme
Badhte Kadam aims at community awareness,
sensitisation, social integration and mainstreaming of
Persons with Disabilities. It has below mentioned
objectives:
 Raise awareness in the public, regarding Person with
Disability (PwD) covered under the NationalTrust Act
and encourage their inclusion in the society, social
integration and participation of persons with disabilities
in all aspects of life.
 Disseminate information on preventive strategies for
the disabilities under the National Trust Act,1999

23.  Sensitize community stakeholders
Publicize and maximize benefits of the
National Trust schemes for Registered
Organization(RO),PwDs and for families of PwDs.
Increase representation in remote areas and in
areas where the National Trust is under
represented
Spread awareness about myths and
misconceptions about disability, disability
etiquette etc.