11Powers and duties of Board

(1) The Board shall--

(a) receive from the Central Government a one-time contribution of rupees one hundred crores for a corpus, the income whereof shall be utilised to provide for adequate standard of living for persons with disability;

(b) receive bequests of movable property from any person for the benefit of the persons with disability in general and for furtherance of the objectives of the Trust in particular:

Provided that it shall be obligatory on the part of the Board to make arrangement for adequate standard of living for the beneficiary named in the bequest, if any, and to utilise the property bequeathed for any other purpose for which the bequest has been made:

Provided further that the Board shall not be under any obligation to utilise the entire amount mentioned in the bequest for the exclusive benefit of the persons with disability named as beneficiary in the bequest;

(c) receive from the Central Government such sums as may be considered necessary in each financial year for providing financial assistance to registered organisations for carrying out any approved programme.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the expression "approved programme" means--

(a) any programme which promotes independent living in the community for persons with disability by--

(i) creating a conducive environment in the community;

(ii) counselling and training of family members of persons with disability;

(iii) setting up of adult training units, individual and group homes;

(b) any programme which promotes respite care, foster family care or day care service for persons with disability;

(c) setting up of residential hostels and residential homes for persons with disability;

(d) development of self-help groups of persons with disability to pursue the realisation of their rights;

(e) setting up of local level committee to grant approval for guardianship; and

(f) such other programmes which promote the objectives of the Trust.

(3) While earmarking funds for the purposes of clause (c) of sub-section (2), preference shall be given to women with disability or to persons with severe disability and to senior citizens with disability.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression,--

(a) "persons with severe disability" shall have the same meaning as is assigned to it under sub-section (4) of section 56 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996);

(b) "senior citizen" means a person who is above the age of sixty-five years or more.