J&K approves Trust for welfare of mentally challenged

Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a legislation for the setting up of a trust for the welfare of mentally challenged persons.
The State Administrative Council (SAC), under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra, approved the 'Jammu and Kashmir State Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 2016' yesterday.
An official spokesman said the Trust has been designed and devised on the lines of National Trust, whose jurisdiction is not extended to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Trust will be governed by a Board of Trustees comprising a Chairperson, who will be a person of eminence, having expertise in the field of autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, health, child development or related fields.

The Board shall also comprise other official and non official members, he said.
Non-official members will be from associations of trade, commerce and industry engaged in philanthropic activities; registered organizations voluntary organizations; associations of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation.

One representative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, has also been incorporated in the Trust, to leverage the expertise and resources of the Ministry.
The SAC has called for immediate steps for the constitution of the Board of Trustees, the spokesman said.
He said that the Trust will be underpinned by a corpus of Rs 5 crore, and will be eligible for grants from the government, and private persons by way of donations, benefactions or endowments.