AI SummaryGharaunda Group Home for Adults Scheme is a central scheme run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It gives lifelong shelter and care to adults with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act, 1999, and the scheme is active in 2026 with registration open through the official National Trust portal.
Gharaunda Centres are set up by Registered Organisations (ROs) approved by the National Trust. Each centre takes a batch of 20 persons with disability, and up to 26 people can stay at one centre since an overflow of 30 percent is allowed. Along with a safe home, the scheme covers basic medical care from professional doctors, vocational and pre-vocational activities, and help with further training.
Gharaunda Group Home for Adults Scheme - Introduction
Gharaunda Group Home for Adults Scheme was launched to create a secure future for adults with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities. These are the four disabilities covered under the National Trust Act, 1999. The idea is simple: every person with these disabilities should have an assured home and quality care for the whole of their life, even after parents or guardians are no longer able to look after them.
The National Trust gives one-time setup support of ₹2,90,000 to start a Gharaunda Centre, along with a monthly recurring cost of ₹5,000 per person and a crisis fund of ₹5,00,000 for emergencies. Centres must keep a 1:1 ratio of LIG (including BPL) and above-LIG residents, and BPL people are funded fully in all cases. Other National Trust schemes like the Samarth Respite Care Scheme and the Disha Early Intervention and School Readiness Scheme cover different care needs for persons with disabilities.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Gharaunda Group Home for Adults Scheme |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Social welfare and Empowerment |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual, NGO |
| Sub Category | Shelter |
| Benefit Type | In Kind |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Nodal Department | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities |
| Open Date | 2016-01-01 |
| Tags | Person with Disability, Respite and Residential Care, Group Home, Life Long Shelter, Abandoned |
Benefits
People who join a Gharaunda Centre get these main benefits:
- Assured lifetime home: Every resident gets a secure home and guaranteed quality care services for the rest of their life.
- Medical and living support: Acceptable living standards are maintained, and basic medical care from professional doctors is part of the daily routine.
- Skill development: Residents can take part in vocational and pre-vocational activities and get help for further training.
Eligibility
There are two separate sets of eligibility rules, one for the person with disability and one for the organisation that wants to run a Gharaunda Centre.
Eligibility for the person with disability:
- The person should be more than 18 years of age.
- The person should have a disability covered under the National Trust Act, 1999, which means Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation or Multiple Disabilities.
Eligibility for Registered Organisation (RO):
- The organisation should be registered with the National Trust.
- It should have a valid registration under the PwD Act 1995 at the time of enrolment.
- The land for the group home should be owned by the organisation or held on a lease of at least 10 years with a renewal option.
- The organisation should have at least 2 years of experience working with persons with disabilities, including at least one year with one of the four disabilities under the National Trust Act.
- The organisation should not be blacklisted by the National Trust or any other government body.
Application Process
Offline Enrolment for PwD
Parents or guardians can take the person directly to a Gharaunda Centre. STEP 1 - Visit the nearest Gharaunda Centre along with the person. STEP 2 - A therapist or counsellor conducts an assessment test to understand the specific care needs. STEP 3 - If the person is orphaned or from a family in crisis, the organisation helps with certification and enrolment, and the person is automatically included in the BPL category and enrolled for Niramaya health insurance. STEP 4 - For other cases, the centre checks whether the person is eligible for LIG or BPL funding. STEP 5 - Submit the completed enrolment form with the required documents and pay any applicable fees. STEP 6 - Once verified, the centre hands over an ID card, a starter kit and all relevant details. STEP 7 - The person is registered under the Niramaya health insurance scheme for added security.
Online Enrolment for Registered Organisation (RO)
NGOs registered with the National Trust can apply online. STEP 1 - Log in to the National Trust registration portal and open the Gharaunda application form. STEP 2 - Complete the application form online and upload all scanned documents. STEP 3 - Pay the enrolment fee of ₹1,000 through the portal. STEP 4 - Print the submitted form and send it along with supporting documents to the National Trust office within 7 days, so it reaches the office within 15 days. STEP 5 - The National Trust reviews the application and gives feedback within 15 days of online receipt. STEP 6 - Once approved, the organisation receives a Scheme ID and a starter kit, and fund release for setup costs begins.
Documents
Documents for PwD Enrolment: Completed enrolment form, birth certificate or proof of age, disability certificate, BPL or income certificate for LIG or BPL families, ID proof of the parent or guardian, and a Legal Guardianship (LG) certificate when parents are not the legal guardians. Original and photocopies of these documents are needed, and records for each person are kept in separate files.
Documents for Registered Organisation (RO) Enrolment: Proof of eligibility, address proof and property deeds (ownership or lease), full bank account details including IFSC code, proof of valid registration under the PwD Act 1995, a self-declaration about the current setup including staff qualifications, facilities and activity lists, and a detailed scheme proposal covering infrastructure, staffing plans and accessibility arrangements.
Funding Support
The National Trust funds approved Gharaunda Centres under fixed heads. Setup cost of ₹2,90,000 is given one time to start the centre. After that, a monthly recurring cost of ₹5,000 per person is paid, and the trust also keeps a crisis fund of ₹5,00,000 for emergencies. A separate setup cost for a work centre, from ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000, is available for organisations that have at least 10 trained persons with disability. Funding follows a 1:1 ratio of LIG (including BPL) and above-LIG residents, and BPL residents are funded fully in all cases.
Contact Details
For registration or scheme related queries, contact the National Trust office at 6th Floor, NISD Building, Plot No. G-2, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075. Telephone: 011-65216000. NGO registration support: 011-65216013. Niramaya health card support: 011-65216007. Email: contactus@thenationaltrust.in.
References
Official Gharaunda Scheme Page | National Trust Registration Portal | Official Guidelines | Find Nearest Centre
FAQ's
Which department manages this scheme?
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs the scheme through the National Trust.
What are the key advantages of joining?
The scheme provides stable, lifelong shelter and dedicated care for persons with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act.
How can a PwD access these facilities?
Parents or guardians can get the person enrolled at any authorised Gharaunda Centre run by a Registered Organisation.
What is the primary goal of the scheme?
The main aim is to give an assured, good quality home for persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
How many people are in one batch?
A standard batch size is 20 persons, with a permitted overflow of 30 percent, allowing up to 26 people per centre.
Does this provide vocational support?
Yes, the scheme includes pre-vocational and vocational activities along with specialised training.
Who is eligible for this?
Adults with disabilities over the age of 18 are eligible for coverage.
How does this support the family?
It reduces the burden on family members by providing professional care, so parents can manage other responsibilities.
How do I locate the closest centre?
Check the full list of centres here: Official Centre List.