Unique Disability ID Scheme

• 05 May 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has asked states to speed up implementation of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) scheme for Persons With Disabilities (PwD) in the 75 districts.

• The Rural Development Ministry has selected the UDID programme as a part of its 90-day campaign in districts “selected on the basis of unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle” under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The campaign aimed for 100% coverage of 17 Central schemes in the 75 districts.

What is UDID?

• About:
  • The Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for PwDs, and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities.
  • The objective is to enable the PwDs to obtain the new UDID card / Disability Certificate to avail schemes and benefits provided by the Government through its various Ministries and their Departments.
• Significance:
  • 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 helps 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.

What is Disability?

• Any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a manner or within the range considered normal for human beings, resulting from impairment is termed as a disability.
• Disability is an important public health problem especially in developing countries like India.
  • To sensitize the matter of disability, 3rd December has been marked as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations.
• About 2.2% of India’s population lives with some kind of physical or mental disability, as per the National Statistics Office report on disability released last year.
  • In India, Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

What are the Schemes Related to Disability?

• Accessible India Campaign: Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs
• Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)
• DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
• National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities
• Unique Disability Identification Project
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• National Mental Health Programme.

Source: TH