Question : Unique Disabled Identity Cards

(a) whether the Government proposes to launch a new scheme for registration of disabled persons on a centralized e-platform for issuance of Unique Disabled Identity (UDID) cards;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the objectives behind this move;
(c) the time by which this work is likely to be completed;
(d) the agency authorised/to be authorised by the Government for issuing the said identity cards; and
(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for the upliftment of differently abled persons in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. With a view to create a national database on persons with disabilities and also to ensure issuance of Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card to each person with disability in the country through uniform web-based programme, the Government has already developed an Application Software which has been hosted on the National Informatics Centre (NIC) cloud. The UDID project envisages transparency, efficiency, and ease of delivering the Government benefits to the persons with disabilities, ensuring homogeneity, and uniformity and streamlines the tracking of physical and financial progress of benefit delivery at all levels of hierarchy of implementation.


(c) The UDID project involves issuance of disability certificates and UDID cards which is an ongoing process. As such no definite time can be envisaged.
(d) The Competent Medical Authorities are empowered to issue certificate of disability as well as UDID cards.


(e) Relief to the disabled is primarily a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the State List of the Constitution of India. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the States for the welfare of persons with disabilities through various schemes. The major schemes of the Department are as under:

(i) Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): Under ADIP Scheme the funds are released to various implementing agencies to assist the needy persons with disabilities in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential.

(ii) Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (SIPDA): Under this scheme, assistance is provided to State Governments and to autonomous organizations/Institutions under Central or State Governments, for various activities relating to implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, particularly for creation of barrier free environment for persons with disabilities. Accessible India Campaign has been launched on 03.12.2015 under this scheme with a view to create awareness and provide barrier free environment for persons with disabilities.

(iii) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) under which grant-in-aid is provided to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for their projects relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric or social functional levels.

(iv) Scholarship schemes for students with disabilities such as Pre-matric, Post-matric, Top Class Education, National Fellowship, National Overseas Scholarship.

Further, Government has recently notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 on 28.12.2016. The new Act provides for more entitlements for persons with disabilities including increased reservation in vacancies in Government jobs from 3% to 4% for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability.


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