Financial Assistance Under The National Fund For Persons With Disabilities
Up to ₹20 lakh for PwD exhibitions, sports travel, and high-support mobility needs · central fund
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
💡 Why Startups Should Care
For accessibility-tech or assistive-device startups, Component 3 of this fund covers up to ₹1 lakh for customized mobility equipment — a reimbursement pathway that can reduce the real out-of-pocket cost for your customers and widen your addressable market.
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
- Not available to a PwD who has already received assistance under this fund for the same type of national or international event
How to Apply
For Component 1 (Exhibitions/Workshops):
- Download the application proforma from DoEPwD guidelines (Annexure-I).
- Fill in all details and attach supporting documents (registration certificate, MoA, PAN/TAN/GST, experience proof).
- Send the completed application 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 (Sports/Arts Participation):
- Download the application proforma (Annexure-II) and fill in all details with disability certificate and achievement proof.
- Submit to the same address as above.
For Component 3 (High Support Needs):
- Get assessed by the State Assessment Board; the State recommends your case to the central fund.
- Submit the proforma (Annexure-III) along with State recommendation and Assessment Board certificate to the same address.
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:
- Registration certificate of the organization
- Experience proof (at least 2 years organizing exhibitions)
- Memorandum of Association
- PAN/TAN/GST number
- Invitation letters from trade/marketing bodies
For Component 2:
- Valid permanent disability certificate (40%+ disability)
- Aadhaar number
- Medal/achievement certificate at state/national level
- Event invitation from organizer
For Component 3:
- Aadhaar number
- Assessment Board recommendation
- State government certificate confirming inability to provide assistance