Samarth-Respite Care Scheme
The Samarth Respite Care Scheme (under National Trust) sets up residential care centres for persons with disabilities — specifically autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or multiple disabilities — who are orphaned, abandoned, from families in crisis, or from BPL/LIG households. It provides group home accommodation with professional therapy, medical care, and vocational training. To enroll, visit a Samarth Centre with the required documents for an individual assessment.
About This Scheme
The Samarth Respite Care Scheme (under National Trust) sets up residential care centres for persons with disabilities — specifically autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or multiple disabilities — who are orphaned, abandoned, from families in crisis, or from BPL/LIG households. It provides group home accommodation with professional therapy, medical care, and vocational training. To enroll, visit a Samarth Centre with the required documents for an individual assessment.
Full official description
Samarth (Respite Care) scheme was launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Govt. of India.The objective of the scheme is to provide respite home for orphans or abandoned PwDs, families in crisis and also for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from BPL & LIG families including destitutes with at least one of the four disabilities covered under the National Trust Act. It also aims at creating opportunities for family members to get respite time in order to fulfil other responsibilities.
Benefits
- Residential group home care with quality living standards for all age groups
- Professional medical care from qualified doctors, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists
- At least 2 special educators/vocational trainers, 3 caregivers, 2 ayas, and a cook at each centre
- Therapeutic aids, appliances, and hygienic lodging provided
- Regular individual assessment and progress monitoring
- Automatic enrollment in Niramaya health insurance scheme
- Transition support to Gharaunda scheme for adults (18+) who have stayed 5+ years
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must have at least one of the four disabilities under the National Trust Act 1999: Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, or Multiple Disabilities
- Priority given to orphaned or abandoned persons with disabilities (PwDs), families in crisis, and BPL/LIG families
- Cannot be simultaneously enrolled in the Disha, Vikaas, or Gharaunda schemes
Exclusions
- PwD should not be enrolled under Disha, Vikaas or Gharaunda Scheme simultaneously.
How to Apply
Enrolment of PwD at the Samarth Centre
Step-1: PwD need to come or is brought to the Samarth Centre with the required proof along with their parents/guardian.
Step-2: The Samarth centre conducts an Individual PwD Assessment Test with the help of a Therapist or Counsellor to understand the specific needs of the PwD.
Step-3: If PwD is orphaned or abandoned or is from a family in crisis, the RO should approach the competent district officials authorised by the State Government to certify the same. Apart from the document for certifying the above, no more documents are to be produced for enrolling with the Samarth Centre. Also, the PwD is automatically included in the BPL category. The PwD is enrolled for Niramaya along with registration for Samarth.
Step-4: In all other cases, a check is made on whether the PwD is applicable for the LIG or BPL funding by the National Trust
Step-5: The parent or guardian is required to fill the Enrolment Form along with the originals and photocopies of the below mentioned documents. The documents and records for each PwD are to be maintained in separate files.
Step-6: In case of successful verification of all the above furnished documents, the PwD is enrolled at the Samarth centre – a confirmation Enrolment ID card/receipt is handed over to the PwDs parents or guardians ( if any) along with a starter kit. Further details about the starting date, rules and regulations etc. are to be mentioned by the Samarth representatives.
Step-7: Parents and guardians of the PwDs are given a detailed insight on the Niramaya health insurance scheme by the Samarth representatives, in case the PwD has not availed it already. A RO representative may assist with the registration of the PwD under the Niramaya scheme, in case the parents or guardian agree for the same. In case of absence of parents or guardians, the Samarth centre needs to mandatorily enrol the PwD for Niramaya.
Note: A necessary field for the intended duration of stay is also to be filled in the application form by the parents or guardian of the PwD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which department has launched Samarth scheme?
This scheme has been launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
What are the main benefits of this scheme?
Respite home for orphans or abandoned, families in crisis and also for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from BPL & LIG families including destitute,
From where the PwD can get the facilities?
PwD can avail the benefits from Samarth Centre or Registered Organisation.
What is the main objective of this scheme?
The main purpose of this scheme is to provide Group home facilities for all age groups with adequate and quality care service with acceptable living standards including provision of basic medical care from professional doctors.
What would be the batch size in a Samarth Centre ?
Batch size of a Samarth centre is 30 PwDs and the maximum number of PwDs allowed is 30% extra of batch size i.e. 39 for Samarth Centres.
Who will be covered under this scheme?
Orphans or abandoned PwDs will be covered under this scheme.
What is the enrolment process of the of PwD at the Samarth Centre?
Parent/legal guardian of the PwD have to come together at the Samarth Centre.Then the centre will conduct a PwD Assessment Test with the help of a Therapist or Counsellor.
How this scheme is also beneficial to the family of the PwD?
This scheme also helps in supporting family members of the PwDs to get some time during the day to fulfill other responsibilities.
What are the documents required for the enrolment?
- Enrolment form.
- Birth certificate or Date of Birth proof of the PwD.
- Disability certificate.
- BPL certificate or Income certificate of Parents or Guardian issued by competent authority as authorized by the concerned State/ Union Territory (for LIG or BPL family).
- ID proof of parent or guardian.
- Declaration proof of the guardianship if PwD <18 years of age and parents are not the guardians. (OR),
- LG certificate, if PwD >18 years of age and parents are not the guardians.
Which website is used for RO registration?
Follow the below URL Link: https://thenationaltrust.gov.in/auth/login.php
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Enrolment form.
- Birth certificate or Date of Birth proof of the PwD.
- Disability certificate.
- BPL certificate or Income certificate of Parents or Guardian issued by competent authority as authorized by the concerned State/ Union Territory (for LIG or BPL family).
- ID proof of parent or guardian.
- Declaration proof of the guardianship if PwD <18 years of age and parents are not the guardians. (OR),
- LG certificate, if PwD >18 years of age and parents are not the guardians.