Families and caregivers of individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual conditions, and multiple conditions in India — who want to understand the government's specific legal framework for supporting these individuals' independence, employment, and welfare after caregivers are no longer able to provide care.
The National Trust Act creates specific legal rights and support mechanisms that most families have never heard of — and that remain deeply underutilised despite being on the books for over 25 years. The consequences of not knowing about these provisions are severe: financial vulnerability, care disruptions, and missed employment opportunities.
This guide explains the National Trust Act's structure, its four key programmes (GHARAUNDA, SAMARTH, VIKAAS, PRERNA), the legal guardianship mechanism, employment-relevant provisions, and how families can access these supports in 2025.
National Trust Act and Its Employment Provisions for Specially-Abled Individuals in India
The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act 1999 — commonly called the National Trust Act — is one of India's least-known but most important pieces of legislation for specially-abled individuals and their families. It was enacted specifically to address the needs of individuals with the four conditions listed in its title — conditions that were underserved by the earlier 1995 Persons with Disabilities Act. Here is what it provides, why it matters for employment, and how to access it.
What Is the National Trust?
The National Trust is a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was established under the National Trust Act 1999 to:
- Enable and support independent living for individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual conditions, and multiple conditions
- Provide legal guardianship for those who need a legal guardian for financial and personal decisions
- Promote and fund programmes for daily living, education, skill development, and supported employment
- Create a network of registered organisations to deliver these services
The National Trust operates through a national-level board and a network of Local Level Committees (LLCs) in every district. Registered organisations (NGOs) empanelled with the National Trust deliver programmes at the ground level.
The Four Conditions Covered
The National Trust Act specifically covers:
- Autism: Including Autism Spectrum Condition across the full spectrum
- Cerebral Palsy: Including all types and severity levels
- Mental Retardation (now called Intellectual Conditions / ID): Varying levels of intellectual limitation
- Multiple conditions: Individuals with two or more of the above, or combinations with other conditions
These conditions are also now covered under the RPWD Act 2016, which expanded beyond the National Trust's four to 21 recognised conditions. For individuals with these four conditions, both the RPWD Act's protections AND the National Trust Act's specific programmes apply.
Key National Trust Programmes with Employment Relevance
VIKAAS — Skill Development and Day Care
VIKAAS (which means "development" in Hindi) is specifically designed for skill development and supported employment for adults with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual conditions, and multiple conditions. Under this scheme:
- Registered National Trust organisations run day care and skill training centres for adults with these conditions
- Skill training covers activities aligned with each individual's functional capabilities — from basic daily living skills to vocational skills like sorting, packaging, data entry (with assistance), craft production, gardening, cooking
- The programme provides a structured, supported environment where individuals develop skills, routines, and confidence for eventual employment or supported work
- Financial support: The National Trust provides grants to registered organisations running VIKAAS programmes, making these services free or low-cost for families
SAMARTH — Family Caregiver Support
SAMARTH supports family caregivers by funding respite care, therapeutic interventions, and community living support. While not directly an employment programme, SAMARTH enables caregivers (often mothers who have left the workforce to care for a specially-abled family member) to return to employment by:
- Providing daytime care while the caregiver works
- Funding periodic respite care — short residential stays — allowing caregivers to take breaks
- Supporting family-based home programmes that reduce the constant caregiver burden
The indirect employment impact of SAMARTH is significant — enabling both the specially-abled individual's development AND the caregiver's return to work.
GHARAUNDA — Supported Group Living and Employment
GHARAUNDA is the National Trust's most forward-looking scheme — it addresses the "after us" question that every parent of a specially-abled child lives with. After parents are no longer able to provide care, what happens?
GHARAUNDA funds group homes where adults with conditions live semi-independently, in communities, with trained support staff. These group homes also include supported employment components — work activities, social enterprise income generation, or supported placements in local businesses.
GHARAUNDA homes have been established in cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. More are being established through registered National Trust organisations.
PRERNA — Motivation and Independence
PRERNA provides grants to families and registered organisations to support independent community participation for specially-abled individuals. Funding covers travel support, communication devices, and participation in community activities that build skills and confidence relevant to eventual employment.
Legal Guardianship Under the National Trust Act
One of the Act's most important employment-relevant provisions is the legal guardianship mechanism. Adults with autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual conditions may need a legal guardian to manage financial decisions, enter into employment contracts, and access government benefits.
The National Trust Act creates a Limited Guardianship framework (strengthened by amendments aligning it with UNCRPD principles) where:
- A parent, sibling, or other person can be appointed as legal guardian by the Local Level Committee
- The guardianship is "limited" — covering specific areas of decision-making (financial, medical) while preserving the individual's autonomy in other areas
- The guardian has a legal duty to act in the best interests of the person, not simply substitute their judgment
For employment: an individual with an intellectual condition who has a legal guardian can enter employment contracts through the guardian's representation, access their own salary in an account managed with guardian oversight, and receive government benefits in their own name.
How to Register and Access National Trust Schemes
- Find your Local Level Committee (LLC): Visit nationaltrust.gov.in to find the LLC in your district
- Register as a beneficiary: The LLC registers individuals who meet the diagnostic criteria (autism, cerebral palsy, ID, multiple conditions)
- Find registered organisations near you: The National Trust maintains a database of registered organisations by state and district. These NGOs run VIKAAS, SAMARTH, and GHARAUNDA programmes.
- Apply for guardianship: The LLC processes guardianship applications for adults who need legal guardianship support
- Access the scheme: Connect with a registered organisation running the relevant scheme and apply for admission
National Trust and the RPWD Act: How They Work Together
The National Trust Act and the RPWD Act 2016 are complementary frameworks:
- The RPWD Act provides the broad rights framework: non-discrimination, reservation, reasonable accommodation — applicable to all 21 conditions
- The National Trust Act provides specific support services for the four covered conditions — day care, skill training, supported living, guardianship
An individual with autism, for example, benefits from: RPWD Act employment reservation and non-discrimination protections + National Trust VIKAAS skill training + National Trust guardianship support for employment contracts + RPWD Act reasonable accommodation at the workplace.
These frameworks work together — accessing one does not preclude accessing the other.
For employment support alongside these legal frameworks, IMAbled connects specially-abled professionals — including those with autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual conditions — with ability-inclusive employers who have prepared workplaces and genuinely inclusive teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the National Trust Act apply to conditions outside the four listed?
The National Trust Act specifically covers autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual conditions (mental retardation), and multiple conditions combining two or more of these. It does not cover all 21 conditions under the RPWD Act. For conditions not in the National Trust Act's four, the RPWD Act 2016, state disability welfare schemes, and the ADIP scheme are the relevant frameworks.
Is GHARAUNDA available in smaller cities, not just metros?
GHARAUNDA homes are primarily in larger cities currently — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and some state capitals. The National Trust is expanding through registered organisations in tier-2 cities. If there is no GHARAUNDA home near you, you can ask your district LLC about plans for expansion or connect with local NGOs that may be in the process of registration to start a group home.
Can an autistic adult work independently, or do they always need supported employment?
Autism is a spectrum — many autistic adults work completely independently in competitive employment, including in demanding professional roles in technology, finance, creative industries, and academia. Some autistic individuals benefit from supported employment arrangements (job coaches, structured environments, social skills support) particularly in the early stages. The National Trust's VIKAAS programme addresses the latter; IMAbled's platform serves both. Each individual's employment path should be determined by their specific capabilities and preferences, not assumptions based on diagnosis.
How does legal guardianship affect an autistic or intellectually-conditioned adult's employment rights?
Legal guardianship under the National Trust Act is limited — it covers specific areas of decision-making, not the person's entire life. An individual under guardianship retains the right to work, to express preferences about their employment, and to be heard in all matters affecting them. The guardian assists with contract-related decisions where needed, but this does not make the individual less entitled to employment, equal pay, or workplace rights under the RPWD Act. Guardianship supports independent living — it does not limit employment rights.
