Our society has a great mix of people from all backgrounds because India is essentially a progressive and developing country. There are some classes of people who are called persons with disabilities or PWD who have been unfortunately handicapped or attained physical damage owing to some injury.
The government has set up an exclusive department NHFDC [National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation] to look into welfare measures of persons with disabilities. It’s not just the government but a few private players who are providing such relief measures too.
In this article, we shall learn about the various schemes offer to students with disability including, scholarship provider, eligibility conditions for each scheme, application process and procedure to be followed and the various benefits and rewards offered.
List of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
- Scholarship for top class education
- Pre matric scholarship
- Post matric scholarship
- NHFDC Trust Fund Scholarship
- AICTE – Saksham Scheme
- Cavincare Ability awards
- Loan system for professional courses.
- Micro financing scheme
- NGO financing scheme
- Financial assistance scheme for skill development
- Financial aid for construction of shop for starting own business
- Scheme for offering support through Vishesh Udyami Mitras
- Scheme for offering support for skill development through Vishesh Prashikshan Mitras
- Scheme for offering financial support for buying assistive devices [ like motorized tricycle/ hearing aids etc.] to attain self employment
- Financial scheme for association of parents of children with disabilities.
- Scheme for young PWD holding professional degrees
1. Scholarship for top class education
Provider – Government of India
Eligibility – For students pursuing post-graduation or diploma courses. Annual family income to be less than INR 6 lakh.
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Between June – August
Rewards – Tuition fees, maintenance allowance and special grants.
2. Pre matric Scholarship
Provider – Government of India
Eligibility – Candidate should have more than 40% disability. Class 9th and 10th students can apply. Annual family income to be less than INR 2 lakhs
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Between June – August
Rewards – Stipend, book allowance, other allowances.
3. Post matric Scholarship
Provider – Government of India
Eligibility – Only class 10 or class 12 students can apply. Annual family income of candidate to be less than INR 2.5 lakhs.
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Between June – August
Rewards – Maintenance allowance, book allowance, miscellaneous allowances, reimbursement of compulsory fees.
4. NHFDC Trust Fund Scholarship
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – For physically disabled students who are currently doing technical courses. Annual family income to be less than INR 3 lakhs.
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Between December – June
Rewards – Maintenance allowance – INR 2500 to INR 3000. Book allowance. Miscellaneous allowances.
5. AICTE – Saksham Scheme
Provider – All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development
Eligibility – Students who are going to begin their diploma or degree in any technical stream at an AICTE affiliated institution. Candidates should possess a disability rate of more than 40%. Annual family income of candidate to be less than INR 8 lakhs.
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Between August – October
Rewards – Tuition fee reimbursement charges- INR 30,000 and annual grant – INR 20,000.
6. Cavincare Ability Awards
Provider – Cavincare Pvt Ltd in association with Ability foundation
Eligibility – Candidate should possess the innate talent and should be an achiever in any field.
Application Mode – Download soft copy of application form from the website. Take a hard copy print out, fill in details correctly and send the form to concerned authority via post.
Timeline – Between October – November
Rewards – Cash reward up to INR 2 lakhs. Candidate will also receive suitable citation and trophy in his name.
7. Loan system for professional courses
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Disability rate of the candidate should be more than 40%. Candidate should be currently pursuing graduation/ post-graduation/ professional or other technical courses. Courses should be recognized by UGC/AICTE etc.
Application Mode – Online Application
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – INR 10 lakhs as term loan for studying in India. INR 20 lakhs as term loan for studying abroad. 0.5% rebate on loan for women. Rate of interest on the loan – 4% per annum.
8. Micro Financing Scheme
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – To start a small business or small scale activity to earn income from home. Candidate should be above 18 years. Female candidates shall be given more priority.
Application Mode – Apply as per formal loan procedures specified by NHFDC.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Complete cost of the business activity started. Rate of interest for the loan availed shall be charged at 5% per annum.
9. NGO Financing Scheme
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – NGOs should be working for the welfare of disabled students. Should have a past registration of at least 3 years. NHFDC provides a loan to these NGOs for starting an occupation that will help generate income for them
Application Mode – As per loan formalities.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Loan for NGOs up to 5 lakhs. Interest rate for repayment shall be charged between 5 to 8%.
10. Financial assistance scheme for skill development
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidates should be between 15 and 50 years.
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – INR 500 every week. Complete recurring cost of the program will be covered.
11. Financial aid for construction of shop for starting own business
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidate should have his/her own land that belongs to a commercial or business category.
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Up to INR 3 lakhs loan facility shall be provided.
12. Scheme for offering support through Vishesh Udyami Mitras
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidate, should come in the category of Vishesh Udyami Mitras
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Up to INR 5 lakhs loan facility shall be provided.
13. Scheme for offering support for skill development through Vishesh Prashikshan Mitras
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidate, should come in the category of Vishesh Prashikshan Mitras
Application Mode – Apply through SCAs or banks
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Every trainee shall be awarded INR 1000
14. Scheme for offering financial support for buying assistive devices [like motorized tricycle/ hearing aids etc.] to attain self employment
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidate should be above 18 years.
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Up to INR 5 lakhs loan facility shall be provided.
15. Financial scheme for association of parents of children with disabilities.
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Any registered parents association that has existence from at least 3 years and has at least 5 active members.
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Up to INR 5 lakhs loan facility shall be provided. Interest rate shall be calculated at 5-6%
16. Scheme for young PWD holding professional degrees
Provider – National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
Eligibility – Candidate age should be between 18-45 years. Candidate should be a degree holder of a professional course.
Application Mode – Loan shall be provided as per existing norms.
Timeline – Throughout the year
Rewards – Up to INR 25 lakhs loan facility shall be provided. Interest rate shall be calculated at 4-8%
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is NHFDC? What is their contact number?
NHFDC stands for National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation. They can be contacted on 011-45803730.
- What benefits can be availed under the loan system offered by NHFDC?
The term loan offered by NHFDC covers various expenses including college fee/ school fee/ hostel fee plus exam fee, library and laboratory charges, books, equipment and instrument charges, uniform charges, caution deposit and building fees, deposit that is refundable, travel charges and purchase of computers/laptop. The loan also includes charges incurred for project work, study tours and purchase of two-wheeler if required.
- What are the courses covered under the scheme for young professionals?
Engineering/ MBBS/ Architecture/ Chartered accountant/ hotel management course/ publicity and social media/ security guard services/ home maintenance services/ DTP/ fashion designing/ graphics/ textile designing/ jewellery designing/ sculpture etc
- What is the main goal of various schemes offered by NHFDC?
NHFDC strives at providing financial assistance to students so that they can utilize it towards buying office premises/ required equipment so that they become self-sustainable and make a living by earning themselves.
- What is the timeline for schemes offered by NHFDC?
Generally, schemes that are offered by NHFDC are loan based and extend throughout the year.
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