Over 800 specially-abled people have received Unique Disability Identity Card and Disability Certificate in the past three months, making Jammu and Kashmir jump to 12th rank on the UDID card status list. Earlier J&K was on 33rd rank.
An example of how this project has helped the specially-abled can be gauged from that fact that a two-year-old child, who had to undergo surgery and was in need of a disability certificate, was issued the certificate within 24 hours.
“This child had to undergo the Cochlear Implant Surgery which costs more than Rs 28 lakhs and he was in need of a disability certificate. We issued the certificate in no time. Now under the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme his surgery will be done free of cost,” said Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Iqbal Lone.
In October last year, the government rolled out the UDID Project in Jammu and Kashmir considering that the state was figuring at the lowest rank in the UDID card status list. But now with 851 UDID cards generated so far in 21 districts, the state is ranked among the top other states.
“Jammu and Kashmir has reached 12th rank among 36 states/ Union Territories in three months and people are also showing tremendous response because of the implementation of this project,” said Lone.
“Earlier it would take five-six months for a specially-abled to get disability certificate, but now it’s just a matter of some weeks.”
The aim of the UDID project is to create a national database for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and to issue a unique ID to them so as to minimize the chances of misuse of disability certificate and streamline the tracking of specially-abled people.
The project includes online availability of data of persons with disabilities across the country through a centralised web application, online filing and submission of registration application form for disability certificate/ Universal ID card, offline applications may also be accepted and subsequently digitized by agencies.
Once the person is registered he would be able to apply online for disability certificate and UDID card. They will also be able to track the status of their application.
