Odisha govt asks district collectors to ensure identification of persons with disabilities

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked all district collectors to ensure the identification of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in their respective districts and issue identity cards to the beneficiaries. They have been asked to implement a unique disability identity (UDID) programme.
Union ministry of social justice and empowerment have emphasised on identification of all PwDs for the ‘Inclusive India Initiative’ to facilitate realisation of equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of PwDs according to the provision of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
“UDID cards are being issued online as the identity proof for PwDs which have made mandatory certificates of disability effective from June 1 last year. Issue of UDID cards to all PwDs has therefore become imperative to extend benefits of different welfare measures implemented by the Union government and the state government,” said Bratati Harichandan, director in the department of social security and empowerment of PwDs, in a letter to collectors.
The officer has requested the district administrations to ensure the issue of UDID cards in favour of all PwDs. According to the instructions issued by the department, the collectors will issue UDID cards to those PwDs who already possess disability certificates issued earlier through manual mode. Door to door surveys will be conducted through ASHA/Anganwadi workers or other field level workers after giving them training to primarily identify 21 types of disabilities.
The district administration will conduct decentralised UDID camps by taking the expert team to the doorstep of PwDs for issuance of UDID cards to the left-out PwDs.
A national database will be created for PwDs through this UDID project. It will also help in streamlining the tracking of physical and financial progress of beneficiaries at all levels- from village level, block level, district level, state level and national level. Objective of this project is to enable the PwDs to obtain the new UDID card/disability certificate to avail schemes and benefits of the government.

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