THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than four months after the original deadline, the state government has decided to start distributing Universal Disability ID (UDID) for persons with disabilities (PwD) from the middle of July. The distribution of cards should have actually begun in March but the search for suitable application collection points had delayed the distribution. The UDID project will create a national database of Persons with Disabilities, and unlike the card they hold now, the UDID will be valid across the country.
The objective of the UDID project is to enable PwDs to avail schemes and benefits provided by the state and national governments through its various Ministries and their Departments. PwDs eligible for UDID are: one, those in possession of an ID card and a medical certificate proving their disability; two, those with just the medical certificate; and three, those without a medical certificate. The first two categories need not take a new medical certificate. Application forms for the UDID have already been distributed through the 32,000-odd anganwadis in the state.
A top Social Justice official said that the limited scope of existing disability certificates was causing problems for the disabled. “It is not a universal certificate. Not only does each state demand a separate one, even departments within a state have issued their own disability certificate,” the official said. The situation was so ludicrous that disabled from the state were not able to get even bus or education concessions in other states.
UDID is expected to iron out the issue. It will create a national database of PwDs and issue a UDID card to persons with disabilities that will be valid across the country. The project will not only encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering government benefits to PwDs but will also ensure uniformity in the assistance provided. The database will also help in tracking the assistance provided to PwDs. “Earlier, money intended for PwDs were ruted to the wrong hands. UDID would end this diversion,” the official said.
