National Fund for Persons with Disabilities

The National Fund for Persons with Disabilities was introduced by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Through this scheme, the Central Government serves to provide financial assistance for the welfare of the disabled person. The main target of the scheme is to create equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities. In this article, we look at the National Fund for PwDs in detail.

Objective of the Scheme

The scheme intends to provide financial assistance for certain areas relevant for the empowerment of persons with disabilities which are not covered under the budgetary support programme of the Government.

Components under the Scheme

The following are the components specified under the scheme.

Purpose

The purpose of the scheme is to grant financial assistance for organising exhibition or workshops at National, Regional or State level to exhibit the products including paintings, handicrafts etc. made by persons with disabilities.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria to apply for this scheme are as follows:

Any Government organisation registered under Societies Act/Companies Act/Trust Act for 3 years or more.
Any Government organisation or an organisation registered should have an experience of more than 2 years for organising exhibition or workshops in marketing products or paintings.

Expenditure Covered under the Scheme

The components or expense covered under the scheme are as follows:

Establishment cost for organising the event which includes the cost of venue arrangement.
Travelling Allowance/Dearness Allowance to the participating PwDs invited to exhibit their products or paintings, transportation cost etc.
Cost of additional arrangements such as LCD screen, light, music etc.

Release of Fund

The grant of 50% will be provided in advance, and the remaining 50% will be given after completion of the programme.

Grant of Assistance

National level Assistance: Maximum financial assistance will be Rs.20 lakh for National level. Regional level Assistance: Maximum financial assistance will be Rs.15 lakh for Regional level (five regions namely, Southern region, Northern region, Western region, Eastern region, North Eastern region. State level Assistance: Maximum financial assistance will be Rs.10 lakh for State level.

Application Procedure

Any interested to avail the assistance specified under the scheme can apply through the application form (Annexure I) which is attached below for your reference. Duly filled application along with the required documents has to be addressed to the respective officer. Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund, Room No. 527, 5th Floor, B-III Wing, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003.

Sanction Committee

The application submitted by the eligible organisations will be verified and evaluated by a Committee as may be constituted with the approval of CEO of the Fund. The Committee will submit its report for consideration of the Governing Body for sanctioning of the proposal.

Support persons with disabilities who have excelled in sports/fine-arts/music/dance/film/literature at the state level to participate in the International and National events.

Purpose

The purpose of the scheme is to grant financial assistance to a person with benchmark disability.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria to apply for this scheme are as follows:

Any person with disability of 40% or more has won medals in sporting events or any artist with disability graded as per the instructions of the Ministry of Culture during the last 3 years.
The annual income of the applicant family should not be more than Rs 3 lakh for participating in the National event, whereas for International event, the annual income of the family should not be more than Rs.6 lakh.
Any person who has already availed assistance from the fund for National/International event will not be eligible for financial assistance for related events.

Scale of Assistance

The financial assistance covered for the components under this scheme is explained below.

Train fare of the applicant with disability along with one escort, in case, if the applicant is not able to travel alone for participation at the National event.
The assistance of Rs.2500/- per day for boarding lodging per person.
In the case of the international event, economical airfare and an amount of Rs.4000/- per day for the entire period of the event will be granted.

Application Procedure

Any interested to avail the assistance specified under the scheme can apply through the application form (Annexure II) which is attached below for your reference. Duly filled application along with the required documents has to be addressed to the respective officer. Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund, Room No. 527, 5th Floor, B-III Wing, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003.

Sanction Committee

Support certain needs of persons with high support need as recommended by the Assessment Boards on the specific recommendation by the States on a case to case basis.

Purpose

The purpose of the scheme is to grant financial assistance to the person with benchmark disability having high needs to meet their particular needs as recommended by the Assessment Board.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria to apply for this scheme are as follows:

Any persons with benchmark disabilities having high needs who have approached the States and the States could not afford such assistance from their Fund and has recommended by the Assessment Board.
The annual income of the PwD family should not be above Rs.3 lakh or as may be specified by the governing body.

Financial Assistance

To improve the activity of daily living, the cost of the customised mobility equipment or Rs.1 lakh whichever is lower is provided.

Application Procedure

Any interested to avail the assistance specified under the scheme can apply through the application form (Annexure III) which is attached below for your reference. Duly filled application along with the required documents has to be addressed to the respective officer. Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund, Room No. 527, 5th Floor, B-III Wing, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003.

Sanction Committee

The application submitted by the eligible organisation will be verified and evaluated by a Committee as may be constituted with the approval of CEO of the Fund. The Committee will submit its report for consideration of the Governing Body for sanctioning of the proposal. Also read about, Self Employment Scheme