Bhubaneswar: With nearly 40,000 applications for Unique Disability Identity (UDID) cards pending across Odisha, the state govt has proposed designating the State Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SIEP) as an authorised institution to assess applicants for issuing disability certificates and UDID cards.The proposal by social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities (SSEPD) department is aimed at improving access to disability certification and expediting the disposal of pending applications.In a recent letter to health and family welfare department, the SSEPD department highlighted SIEP’s expertise in rehabilitation, assessment and intervention services for children and adults with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, specific learning disability and other neurological conditions.The SIEP currently assesses eligible beneficiaries in the 0-18 age group for issuance of UDID cards. The SSEPD department has now requested the health department to notify the institute as a designated medical authority under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The authorisation will enable SIEP to assess persons with disabilities across all age groups for the issue of disability certificates as well as UDID cards.According to the proposal, SIEP has the necessary multidisciplinary professionals and infrastructure to conduct disability assessments across various categories. Department officials believe the institute can significantly strengthen the state’s disability certification mechanism and help reduce the growing backlog.Official data show that 39,571 UDID applications were pending in Odisha as of Sunday. Mayurbhanj accounted for the highest backlog with 6,996 applications, followed by Balasore (3,585), Ganjam (3,576), Sundargarh (2,479), Cuttack (2,313), Jagatsinghpur (2,292), Kendrapara (2,216), Rayagada (2,043) and Khurda (1,596).Launched in 2016 by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities under Union ministry of social justice and empowerment, the UDID project seeks to create a national database of such people while providing every eligible beneficiary with a unique identity card to facilitate access to govt welfare schemes and disability-related services.Department sources attributed the backlog largely to delays at the district level, where applications are processed before being forwarded to the health department for medical assessment and approval.
