Very few takers for online guardianship registration

Stating that four categories of children come under the NTA, L V Jayashree, Director, The Spastic Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN), said, “Children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities come under the Act.” 

However, she said, “Owing to various factors, including the recent introduction of online registration, the number of guardianship certificates issued has reduced. In 2017-18, only 38 were issued as opposed to the 91 in 2016-17. (The online system of registration was introduced only last year).” 

Despite the requirements for registration having been made clear, parents, especially from the Below Poverty Line category, find it difficult to understand the requirements to upload, and fail to complete the registration, said Kishore Kumar, a social worker, who conducts home visits, adding that it will take time for them to understand technology. He also added that the parents are now being educated on the same. 

Explaining the functioning of the NTA, Jayashree said, “The child’s parents are nominated as natural guardians. In case they pass away, a sibling of the child is nominated. However, in the case of the PWD having no sibling, provisions for placement and care under the NTA can occur through schemes given through Registered Organisations (RO), besides residential care services by organisations.” 

With an aim to provide guardianship support for emotional and social and physical well-being of PWDs who fall under the four categories of the NTA, they are registered (once they cross 18 years of age) under the Act, which provides them continuum of support so that they are not only taken care of, but the property assigned to them is also safeguarded and any misappropriation of property due to any systemic changes that may take place in the family is prevented, she explained. 

Meanwhile, the Samarth scheme takes care of residential services – for short term as well as for the long term – for adults and destitute children. The Gharunda scheme, on the other hand, focuses on group homes and rehabilitation activities to meet the demands of life long care.