Less than 40% of disabled persons have ID needed for benefits , Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Less than 40% of India's Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have a Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, hindering access to government benefits.
• Over 11 lakh UDID card applications are pending, with over 60% delayed for more than six months.
• Only Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Karnataka have issued UDID cards to over 50% of their PwD population.
• The UDID sub-scheme aims to create a national database for PwDs, enabling access to schemes like ADIP.

Detailed Insights:

• The UDID card facilitates access to benefits such as wheelchairs, scholarships, and job reservations.
• The implementation of the UDID scheme faced challenges due to ineffective communication during the transition from state-specific disability certificates.
• Delays in processing UDID applications and lack of digital literacy are major factors contributing to low coverage.
• Only 60% of Indians above 15 years can use copy and paste tools, indicating a digital literacy barrier for online UDID applications.
• Despite increased overall funding for schemes for PwDs, the UDID sub-scheme has experienced reduced funding.
• The limited political influence of PwDs, who constitute a small percentage of the population, contributes to negligence towards their needs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Unique Disability ID (UDID): A card providing a single identification for persons with disabilities to access government benefits nationwide.
• Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): Individuals with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments.
• Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (ADIP): A scheme providing aids and appliances to persons with disabilities.