Question : UDID Cards for Differently Abled Persons

(a) whether the Government has any data on the number of differently abled persons in the country as on date and if so, the details thereof, State/UT, disability/ gender and age-wise;

(b) the details and the total number of Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Cards which have been issued by the Government, State/UT-wise during the last two years;

(c) whether it is a fact that a large number of disabled persons have not been able to avail the benefits of this UDID Card and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government is taking any other measures to provide relief to persons with disabilities, especially those badly affected during the Coronavirus pandemic period; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

(a) Yes, Sir. As per Census 2011, there are 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities in India. State/UT and gender wise details are placed at Annexure-I, disability-wise and gender wise details at Annexure-II and age wise details at Annexure-III.

(b) As of 18.03.2021, total 55.19 lakh UDID cards have been generated in all States/UTs. The State/UT-wise UDID cards generated in last two years and the current year i.e. 2020-21 (upto 18.03.2021) is placed at Annexure-lV.

(c) Yes, Sir. As per data of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) office, 1.66 crore disability certificates have been issued to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by States/UTs and 55.19 lakh UDID cards have been generated in all States/UTs as of 18.03.2021. In the UDID project, upon receipt of applications through the UDID portal i.e. www. http://www.swavlambancard.gov.in, the request is processed and after due assessment of the disability by the concerned Medical Authorities, if eligible, UDID cards are issued to the PwDs by State/UT government.

The UDID cards State/UT-wise generated are placed at Annexure-V.





(d) & (e) The Central Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which came into force on 19.04.2017. Section 8 of the said Act guarantees equal protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. The Act inter-alia provides for not less than 4% reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities (i.e. disability of 40% or more) in Government employment, accessibility in built-up infrastructure, transportation and ICT ecosystem, priority in treatment and access to healthcare services for persons with disabilities. These measures were also applicable during the COVID-19 lockdown. Further, in order to implement the provision of reservation in Government employment envisaged under the RPwD Act, 2016, the Ministry notified the list of 3566 posts suitable for various categories of persons with benchmark disabilities on 04.01.2021.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a guidance note on 14.04.2020 to all States/UTs for addressing health concerns of all citizens including persons with disabilities and enabling them to avail uninterrupted emergency health care services. On 24.04.2020, all the States/UTs were requested by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to ensure basic accessibility features in the centres for COVID-19 testing & quarantine facilities as well as for treatment at hospitals & health centres.
The Ministry of Rural Development released Rs. 80 crore to the States/UTs under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY) for payment of ex-gratia of Rs. 1000/- in two instalments (Rs. 500 each) to 8 lakh existing beneficiaries of Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).
During COVID-19 pandemic, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) enhanced unemployment benefit from 25% to 50% of average daily earning and relaxed the eligibility conditions for insured persons including persons with disabilities under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for the period 24.03.2020 to 31.12.2020.
On 26.03.2020, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment issued ‘Comprehensive Disability Inclusive Guidelines for protection and safety of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) during COVID 19 to all States/UTs. These guidelines provide measures to be adopted by various States/District authorities to give focused attention to protection and safety of persons with disabilities during COVID 19. These measures, inter-alia, include access to essential food, water, and medicines for PwDs; priority in treatment specially in respect of children and women with disabilities, on-line counselling mechanism, 24X7 Helpline Number at State level exclusively for Divyangjan with facilities of sign language interpretation and video calling, availability of information relating to services and precautions during COVID 19 in accessible format; and issuance of passes to caregivers of persons with disabilities during lockdown on priority. These guidelines mandate the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the District officer dealing with empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to act as the State Nodal authority and the District Nodal authority respectively, to resolve disability specific issues of Persons with Disabilities. This Ministry also set up a dedicated 24x7 toll free Mental Health Rehabilitation helpline service ‘KIRAN’(18005990019) on 7th September, 2020 to address mental health concerns of persons with disabilities during COVID-19.
Further, relief to persons with disabilities is a State subject by virtue of Entry 9 of the State list of the Constitution of India and accordingly, it is the responsibility of the State Governments to frame schemes and programmes to help PwDs live a productive and independent life. The Central Government, however, supplements the efforts of the State Governments through its following major schemes:
(i) Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): Under ADIP Scheme assistance is provided to 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 enhancing their economic potential. The scheme also has a provision to support cochlear implant surgery to hearing impaired children upto 5 years of age at a cost of up to Rs.6.00 lakh per child.
(ii) Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (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 the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mainly for creation of barrier free environment including Accessible India Campaign and skill development of persons with disabilities (PwDs).
(iii) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Under the scheme 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 under which the Government provides scholarships for students with disabilities such as Pre-matric (for classes IX & X), Post-matric (from class XI up to Post Graduate degree/diploma level), Top Class Education (Post graduate degree/diploma in notified Institutes), National Fellowship (M.Phil and Ph.D courses), National Overseas Scholarship (for Overseas education at P.G./Doctorate level) and Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities (SwDs).
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