Disha - Early Intervention and School Readiness Scheme
State: Central
Ministry: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department: Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities
Category: Social welfare & Empowerment
Beneficiary Type: Individual

This scheme aims at setting up Disha Centres for early intervention for Person with Disability (PwD) in 0-10 years of age covered under the National Trust Act, through therapies, trainings and providing support to family members.

Benefits:
1. **Day Care:** Day-care facilities to PwD for at least 4 hours in a day.1. **Staffing:** Provision of Therapies, trainings and providing support to family members.1. **Counselling:** Counselling and guidance especially for Activities for Daily Living (ADL) must be provided to parents or guardians of PwD with regular follow-ups by RO to ensure that parents or guardians attend a minimum number of counselling sessions.1. **Transport Facilities:** Registered Organisations can also provide transportation facilities to PwD in case it is mutually suitable for both. 1. **Assessment and Evaluation:** PwD should be assessed and evaluated by experts in the related field on a regular basis to understand their individual needs and also to monitor the progress of the PwD.

Eligibility:
Following are the eligibility criteria that a PwD should have to be enrolled under Disha Centre:

1. PwD should be in the age group of 0-10 years.
1. PwD should have one of the disabilities covered under the [National Trust Act, 1999](https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3300891a62162b960cf02ce3827bb363c/uploads/2024/09/20240918793880368.pdf), which are Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
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Application Process:
[Offline]
Registered Organisations (ROs) Enrolment (first approval) Process:STEP 1: The NGO registered with the National Trust logs in to the National Trust website.
STEP 2: The application form is available online on the National Trust website and has to be submitted online only. Application fees for enrolment in the Disha scheme is INR 1000/-.
STEP 3: After the National Trust receives the application form and the documents, these are verified and then physical verification is initiated. However, if there is more information required from the RO, the RO is given 15 days’ time to submit the same.
Note that the documents related to physical verification of the RO and proposed Disha Centre can be submitted either at the time of enrolment for the scheme at the National Trust website or even after the online application form has been submitted. In case the RO fails to submit the same on time, the RO would be given 15 days’ time to submit the same after the RO receives the notification from the National Trust.
STEP 4: The final decision on the application or proposal is taken after completing all necessary formalities and processes. Based on the physical verification report, if the RO meets scheme criteria and requirements, the application is approved. In case there is any discrepancy, RO is accordingly informed.
STEP 5: Communication to RO by the National Trust shall be done within 15 days from the point of receipt. In case of online form, point of receipt is the date and time of submission of online form along with all the required documents. However, if there is any missing information, the National Trust has to communicate to RO within 10 days from receipt of online submission.
STEP 6: In case the hardcopy of the form and other documents is not received within 15 days of online point of receipt, the National Trust has to send a communication back to RO within 10 days of the prescribed deadline (which is within 25 days from point of receipt).
STEP 7: After the enrolment is completed, a scheme ID is created for the RO, and the confirmation for the same is communicated to RO.
STEP 8: A starter kit/Disha handbook containing the complete details of the Disha scheme is also handed over to the RO by the National Trust.
STEP 9: The National Trust to begin the fund disbursement process for providing setup cost to the ROs.
The National Trust should proactively reach out to the NGOs or ROs who had earlier approached for the Aspiration scheme. 
Enrolment of PwD at the Disha Centre:STEP 1: PwD comes to the centre with the required proof.
STEP 2: The Disha centre conducts a PwD Assessment Test with the help of a Therapist or Counsellor.
a) In case the PwD is fit to attend school, the parents are provided guidance and counselling in terms of general care, details of special schools or regular schools, and other schemes of the National Trust that can be availed for the PwD. In case the parents are interested in sending the children to regular school or special school and not to the Disha Centre, they may exit from the process.
b) In case the parents want to send the PwD to the Disha Centre (either along with going to school, or not) even if he is fit to attend school, or in cases where the child is not fit to attend regular classes as per the Assessment Test, proceed to the next step.
STEP 3: In case of enrolling PwD in the Disha Centre, a check is made by the concerned RO on whether the PwD is applicable for the LIG or BPL funding by the National Trust. The National Trust shall generally fund on the basis of information provided by the RO. However, the National Trust reserves the right to verify this through other sources, if required.
STEP 4: Parents or guardians are required to bring the Enrolment Form along with the originals and photocopies of the following documents. The documents and records for each PwD are to be maintained in separate files by RO.
STEP 5: After successful verification of all the above furnished documents, the PwD is enrolled at the Disha Centre – a confirmation Enrolment ID card/receipt is handed over to the parents or guardians, along with a starter kit. Details about the schedule of the centre, starting date, rules and regulations, etc., should be explained to parents or guardians by the Disha representatives.
STEP 6: Parents and guardians of PwD should be given a detailed insight on the Niramaya health insurance scheme by the Disha representatives, in case the former has not yet availed the same. Disha representatives can assist with the registration of the PwD under the Niramaya scheme if the parents or guardians are interested in the same.

Documents Required:
Enrolment form.
Birth Certificate or Date of Birth proof of the PwD.
Disability Certificate.
BPL certificate or Income certificate of Parent or Guardian issued by a competent authority as authorized by the concerned State/ Union Territory (for LIG or BPL family).
ID proof of parent or guardian.
Residence (Local) proof (Mandatory in case of LIG parent or guardian or for parents of PwD availing transport facility).