About "DISHA"- Tit Bits for PRELIMS

• It's an early intervention scheme  
• Beneficiaries: Children in age group 0-10years
• It covers 4 disabilities under the National Trust Act
• Under this scheme, any organisation of persons with disabilities (PwD), any organisation of parents of PwD or a voluntary organisation may register with National Trust
• Such organisations are called Registered Organisation (RO)

 Following minimum Facilities are provided by the ROs in their DISHA centres:

a) DAY CARE:

i) Duration and attendence:

• RO should provide day care facilities to PwD for at least 4 hours a day
• Day Care should be opened for at least 21 days a month
• Minimum attendance required for a PwD in Disha Centre is 15 Days per month for National Trust to fund PwD

ii) Batch Size:

• Batch Size of 20 PwDs with a maximum number of PwDs allowed being 30% extra, beyond which no more PwDs will be enroled

iii) Obligations on Registered Organisations (RO)

• ROs are encouraged to apply again if they have sufficient number of PwDs for the new Disha Centre
• RO should maintain a ratio of 1:1 for Low Income Group (including BPL) and above Low Income Group PwDs (which will be paid seats for RO)
• ROs should also get in touch with paediatricians or experts in similar field to seek help in getting more PwDs enrolled in Disha Centre

b) STAFFING

There must be a provisioning for a

• Special Educator or Early Intervention Therapist,
• Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist
• Counsellors for PwD
• Caregivers and Ayas

Other than this availability of Physical Trainers and Speech Therapists are also desirable but not compulsory

c) INFRASTUCTURE FACILITIES

Disha centre must have:

• one Medical Assesment room with therapeutical aides and appliances 
• one activity roomm and one recreational room for PwD

Further it is desirable to have:

• Provisions for a personal computer,scanner and net connnections for the office purpose, sending fund request, submit reports etc to the National Trust

d) 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
• RO should provide assistance to PwD for further admissions in Mainstream Schools