AP To Start Zonal Slots for Making Disability Assessments Transparent
All services under SADAREM are free of cost. Official urges people not to pay any money to unauthorised agents or middlemen.
The move is aimed at making disability assessment and certification more transparent, accessible, and citizen-friendly. Further, the state government has made self-declaration of disability and its intensity mandatory for new applicants. The applicants will have to compulsorily register themselves online before the disability assessment tests.
Announcing the reforms for the disabled on Sunday, AP Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the new measures would reduce travel hardships, eliminate misuse of the booking system, and ease the administrative burden on hospitals and officials.
Disability assessment tests under the revised system will commence at the designated hospitals from July 13.
The minister clarified that instead of allowing applicants to book appointments anywhere in the state, slot booking would now be restricted to six geographical zones. Applicants can choose hospitals within their own district or neighbouring districts falling under the same zone. The move is aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of assessment slots, while reducing unnecessary travel and repeated requests for transfer of SADAREM IDs.
Among the six geographical zones, Zone-1 comprises Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Visakhapatnam districts; Zone-2 Alluri Sitarama Raju, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema; Zone-3 West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, and Polavaram; Zone-4 Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram, and SPSR Nellore; Zone-5 Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, and YSR Kadapa; and Zone-6 Nandyal, Anantapur, Kurnool, and Sri Sathya Sai districts.
To check false bookings, every new applicant must submit a self-declaration while booking a slot. If the disability category is unclear, a certificate from a qualified general physician must be uploaded before booking. Standard formats for self-declaration and medical certificate will be available on AP Seva and SADAREM portals.
Another key reform is mandatory online registration of attendance before appearing for the assessment camp. The SADAREM ID will be activated only after attendance is recorded, improving transparency, accountability and physical verification.
For the first time, applicants can directly book assessment slots through a citizen login on the AP Seva portal using their Aadhaar number, mobile number, and email ID. The service, including slot booking and downloading disability certificates, is free. Applicants may continue to use village and ward secretariats for assistance.
Officials disclosed that more than 80,000 applicants had booked SADAREM slots during the first quarter of the year. Fresh slot bookings will remain open from July 8 until the end of August.
The government has directed officials to create awareness among persons with disabilities about the new procedures. Secretariat Digital Assistants are being trained to guide applicants, while district-wise and disability-wise slot availability can also be checked through the government's Mana Mitra WhatsApp service.
Director of Secondary Health K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu urged people not to pay any money to unauthorised agents or middlemen. He emphasised that all SADAREM services are free of cost.