Unique Disability Identification Portal

Q Why is it in  News ?  

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has issued a notification making it mandatory for all States/UTs to grant certificate of disability through online mode only using UDID (Unique Disability ID) portal from 1 June 2021.

Q What is Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Portal ? 

• The project is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for persons with disabilities (PwDs), and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each PwDs.
• The project will not only encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering the government benefits to the person with disabilities, but also ensure uniformity.
• The project will also help in stream-lining the tracking of physical and financial progress of beneficiaries at all levels of hierarchy of implementation – from village level, block level, District level, State level and National level.

Q What are provisions of Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 ?

• Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016:
  
  
  • Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
  • Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
  • It increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.
  • This Act brings our law in line with the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory.

Q What are other Programmes/Initiatives for Disabled persons? 

• Accessible India Campaign: Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs.
• DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to Persons with Disabilities.
• Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): It aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.

National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities:

It aims to increase opportunities to students with disabilities for pursuing higher education.