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Universal ID cards for disabled: Gehlot
Universal ID cards for disabled: Gehlot, \"The census figure does not provide a clear and proper picture on the actual number of disabled persons. Our ministry has decided to conduct a country-wide survey to identify people with disabilities and issue them universal identity cards,\" Gehlot told reporters here.
Bhubaneswar: 'Universal Identity Cards' would be issued to people with disabilities for which a survey would begin next month to ascertain the exact number of disabled people in the country, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said.
"The census figure does not provide a clear and proper picture on the actual number of disabled persons. Our ministry has decided to conduct a country-wide survey to identify people with disabilities and issue them universal identity cards," Gehlot told reporters here.
Stating that the survey slated to begin next month would be completed by March 2015, the Union Minister said the multipurpose identity cards would enable the persons with disabilities to avail treatment and other facilities in any part of the country.
In the absence of proper identity cards, disabled people often face difficulties in getting treatment and other facilities when they move out of their states, he said.
Elaborate deliberations have been undertaken during the last two months pertaining to the proposed exercise to identify people with disabilities and issue them cards, he said adding preparations are on for the purpose. Though a person is recognised as disabled if he/she has more than 40 per cent disability as per norms, those with less degree of physical deformity should also be considered as disabled and issued identity cards, he said.
The minister said people with 70 to 90 per cent disability would be provided with motorised tricycles costing about Rs 45,000 each for which the Centre would give Rs 30,000 subsidy each.
Efforts are on to make available the rest amount from MPLAD fund, he said adding talks are on with states for getting part of the money from MLA's local area development fund. Referring to Odisha, the minister said the number of disabled persons in the state was high.
Gehlot said he has accepted the state's proposal for setting up regional centres of three premier national institutes in Odisha to empower the differently-abled people in the state.
