Question : NATIONAL TRUST FOR MENTALLY RETARDED

(a) whether the Government have set up National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple disability;

(b) if so, the objective thereof and facilities likely to be provided to children who are 50 percent mentally retarded in particular and hostel facilities for life long for such children;

(c) the areas identified therefor and the number of persons benefited therefrom, State-wise;

(d) the financial assistance provided to each State during the last three years, State-wise and year-wise; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SMT. MANEKA GANDHI)

(a) The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 has come in to effect from 30th December, 1999.

(b) Objectives of the Trust and facilities to be provided to children with mental retardation are given in the annexure.

(c to e) As the National Trust Act has come into force only recently, the programmes have not been launched and therefore it is not possible to give number of beneficiaries or financial assistance provided under the Trust.

ANNEXURE

Objectives of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.

(a) to enable and empower persons with disability to live as independently and as fully as possible within and as close to the community to which they belong;

(b) to strengthen facilities to provide support to persons with disability to live winhtin their own families;

(c) to extend support to registered organizations to provide need based services during the period of crisis in the family of persons with disasbility;

(d) to deal with problems of persons with disability who do not have family support;

(e) to promote measures for the care and protection of persons with disability in the event of death of their parent or guardian;

(f) to evolve procedure for the appointment of guardians and trustees for persons with disability requiring such protection;

(g) to facilities the realization of equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of persons with disability; and

(h) to do any other act which is incidental to the aforesaid objects;

Facilities likely to be provide to children with mental retardation-

(a) Counselling and training of family members

(b) Setting up of adult training units.

(c) Setting up of individual and group homes

(d) Programme of respite care and of foster family care

(e) Day care services for persons with disability

(f) Setting up of self help group of persons with disability

(g) Setting up of local level committees to gratn approval of guardianship