Financial Assistance Under The National Fund For Persons With Disabilities
This central government scheme provides financial support to persons with disabilities (PwDs) through three components: funding organizations to hold exhibitions and workshops showcasing work created by PwDs; supporting talented PwDs to participate in national and international events in sports, arts, music, or literature; and providing customized mobility equipment to those with high support needs. It covers areas not funded under the regular government budget for disability empowerment. Apply offline by submitting a written proposal to the Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003.
About This Scheme
This central government scheme provides financial support to persons with disabilities (PwDs) through three components: funding organizations to hold exhibitions and workshops showcasing work created by PwDs; supporting talented PwDs to participate in national and international events in sports, arts, music, or literature; and providing customized mobility equipment to those with high support needs. It covers areas not funded under the regular government budget for disability empowerment. Apply offline by submitting a written proposal to the Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003.
Full official description
A scheme by DoEPwDs for providing financial assistance to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in support of various livelihood activities. The objective of these guidelines is to provide a framework to support financial assistance under the Fund for certain core areas relevant for empowerment of persons with disabilities which are not covered under the budgetary support programme of the Government.
The scheme aims at supporting persons with benchmark disabilities who have excelled in sports / fine-arts / music / dance / film / theatre / literature at the State level to participate in the National and International events. It also provides financial assistance for organising exhibition/ workshops at National/Regional/State level to showcase the products including paintings, handicrafts etc made by persons with disabilities.
Benefits
- Component 1 (Exhibitions): Up to ₹20 lakh for national-level events; up to ₹15 lakh for regional-level events — 50% paid in advance, 50% after completion
- Component 2 (Sports/Arts participation): 2nd AC train fare + ₹2,500/day per person for national events; economy airfare + ₹4,000/day for international events
- Component 3 (Mobility equipment): Actual cost of customized mobility equipment or ₹1,00,000, whichever is lower
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Exhibitions/workshops (Component 1): Organization registered under Societies, Companies, or Trust Act for 3+ years with at least 2 years' experience running PwD exhibitions
- Sports/arts participation (Component 2): Person with 40%+ disability who has won medals or been graded outstanding in sports/arts in the past 3 years; family income up to ₹3 lakh for national events or ₹6 lakh for international events; must not have previously received this assistance for the same type of event
- High support needs (Component 3): Person with benchmark disability assessed by a State Assessment Board; family income up to ₹3 lakh; state must confirm it cannot fund the need from its own resources
Exclusions
If a PwD has been granted assistance under the Fund for one National / International event, he will not be eligible for financial assistance for similar events.
How to Apply
For Component 1: The eligible organizations may submit the proposal as per the proforma placed at Annexure-I of the guidelines along with all supporting documents addressed to: Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund Room No. 527, 5th Floor, BIII Wing Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003. For Component 2: The eligible PwDs may submit the proposal as per the proforma placed at Annexure-II of the guidelines along with all supporting documents addressed to: Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund Room No. 527, 5th Floor, BIII Wing Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003. For Component 3: The eligible individual persons with benchmark disabilities seeking high support needs who have been assessed by the State Assessment Boards may submit the proposal as per the proforma placed at Annexure III of the guidelines along with all supporting documents addressed to: Joint Secretary & CEO of the Fund Room No. 527, 5th Floor, BIII Wing Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to receive assistance from the fund more than once?
No, if a PwD has been granted assistance under the Fund for one National / International event, he will not be eligible for financial assistance for similar events.
I have been invited to an event to showcase my paintings. Will this scheme cover TA/DA?
Yes, TA/DA is provided for travelling to the exhibition/workshop to showcase the products / paintings.
I am PwD. I have high support needs. What is the maximum financial assistance I can get through this scheme?
The support to certain exclusive needs of persons with high support needs is as recommended by the Assessment Boards on specific recommendation by the States on a case to case basis. The financial assistance is limited to: Actual cost of the customized mobility equipment to improve activity of daily living or Rs 1 lakh whichever is lower.
Is there any application fee?
No. The entire application process is completely free of cost.
What is meant by “benchmark disability”?
A disability of 40% or more is termed as a benchmark disability.
I am a PwD. I wish to participate in the National IT Challenge. My family income is Rs. 2.8 LPA. Am I eligible for assistance from the fund?
Yes, you are eligible for the assistance as per the scheme guidelines.
Where can I find the prescribed proforma of the application form?
The proforma can be found in the annexures of the guidelines.
Do I need to submit the original copies of the required documents?
No, only the photocopies of the required documents are needed to be submitted along with the application form.
How do I know if a field in the application form is mandatory?
The mandatory fields have a red asterisk (*) mark at the end.
Am I required to provide my AADHAAR Number in the application form?
Yes, AADHAAR is a mandatory document and needs to be provided by the applicant.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- For Component 1: Exhibitions/workshops to showcase the products including paintings, handicraft etc made by the PwDs.
- Certificate of Registration
- Supporting Document showing Experience of the Organization
- Memorandum of Association of the Organization
- PAN/TAN/GST Number
- Invitation letter inviting trade/marketing bodies
- For Component 2: Support persons with benchmark disabilities who have excelled in sports / fine-arts / music / dance / film / theatre / literature at the State level to participate in the National and International events.
- Copy of valid permanent certificate of disability
- AADHAAR Number or AADHAAR enrollment number (if AADHAAR card not yet obtained).
- Certificate showing winning of medals at the State/National level or certificate showing achievement in the field of fine arts/painting/music.
- Invitation from the organizer of National/International event.
- For Component 3: Support certain exclusive needs of persons with high support needs as recommended by the Assessment Boards on specific recommendation by the States on a case to case basis.
- AADHAAR Number or AADHAAR enrollment number (if AADHAAR not yet obtained).
- Copy of the recommendations of the Assessment Board
- Certificate from the State Government conveying that the initially the proposal was submitted to them and it was not possible for the States to grant any assistance. In addition a copy of the recommendation from the State clearly indicating the requirement of assistance.