By the end of this year, the Centre is planning to launch universal identity cards with a unique number for the disabled populations. Details about the card will be uploaded online.
“With all the details of person available at the click of a button, the identity cards are expected complete eliminate the hassles involved with duplicate or fake disability certificates,” said an official from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
“This card will also help in doing away with the practice of having to carry the disability certificates for different purposes, as all details, including the type and extent of disabilities would be made available online,” said the official.
The Government is aiming at a December 3 deadline for issuing the first universal disability ID card as the day is celebrated as the United Nations’ International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
“We have almost zeroed in on the software provider, which would also be tasked with the responsibility of uploading disability details of the individual,” said the official.
The department functioning under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has decided to issue web-based cards instead of smart cards, proposed initially.
“Since most of the details of persons with disabilities would be available online, we have decided to go ahead with plastic cards, comprising a unique number,” an official said.
“A big advantage of this ID card is that a migrant person with disabilities need not have to travel to his home State for certain authorisations, as all details would be available online,” the official said.
Details — including personal, bank, disability certificate, employment, education and income status of every person with disabilities — would be incorporated for issuing the ID card, they said.
The Government has planned to upload existing disability certificates for issuing the ID cards. “The Ministry will conduct medical camps for new applicants to provide ID cards,” said the official.
Data with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment shows that of the 26.8 million differently-abled populations in India, only 10.53 million persons with disabilities have disability certificates.