The National Trust is a statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, set up under the “National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities” Act (Act 44 of 1999). As per Section 13 (1) of the National Trust Act 1999, the Board shall constitute a Local Level Committee for appoint the legal guardianship. Under section 14 of the National Trust Act, the Local Level Committee headed by the District Collector is empowered to receive application in Form A under Rule 16(1) & appoint guardians in Form B under Rule 16(2) for persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Mental Retardation & Multiple Disabilities. It also provides mechanism for monitoring and protecting their interests including their properties. Local Level Committee constituted in every district of the country.
Tallur Family Trust is a registered organization under National Trust since 2014 and is one of the NGO representatives in Local Level Committee with the District Magistrate as its President.
Functions of Local Level committee:
- Appointment of Guardian: As per section 14(1) of National Trust Act “a parent of a person with disability or his relative may make an application to the Local Level Committee for appointment of any person of his choice to act as a guardian of the persons with disability”.
- Removal of Guardian: As per Section 17(1) of National Trust Act “whenever a parent or a relative of a person with disability or a registered organisation finds that the guardian is – abusing or neglecting a person with disability, or misappropriating or neglecting the property, it may in accordance with the prescribed procedure apply to the committee for the removal of such guardian.
Role of Local Level Committee NGO representative:
- LLC NGO member overviews the scrutiny/verification of the proposed guardianship
- The LLC NGO do regular home visits in order to collect the information of the proposed guardian and give their comment in the online system comment box which is sent to the dashboard of LLC chairperson.
- LLC NGO can remind to the office of LLC chairperson for holding the quarterly meeting as per NT act and help in disposal of online legal guardianship.