The full form of UDID is “Unique Disability ID.” The UDID is a distinctive identification number assigned to individuals with disabilities in India through the UDID Project. This initiative, launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, aims to create a comprehensive and centralized database of persons with disabilities. The UDID serves as a unique identifier for individuals with disabilities, facilitating easy access to various benefits, services, and schemes designed to empower and support them.
The UDID Project, an initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is administered by the Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities (DEPwD). Through the UDID Portal, the program aims to establish a platform for issuing Unique Disability ID Cards to all Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and create a comprehensive National Database of individuals with disabilities in India.
Originally launched by the Government of India in 2016, the UDID Project became mandatory for all states and Union Territories (UTs) from June 1, 2021, as directed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Consequently, all states and UTs are now required to exclusively issue UDID Certificates through the UDID Portal. Before this mandate, different states independently issued disability certificates and maintained separate databases, resulting in a lack of uniformity in disability identification certificates.
The primary objectives of the UDID Project are:
Following the enactment of the 2016 Right to Persons with Disabilities Act, the list of scheduled disabilities has expanded from 7 to 21. The UDID Project encompasses the following types of disabilities:
According to the 2011 Census, India’s population includes 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), representing slightly over 2% of the total population. However, comprehensive data on PwDs, including their details, types of disabilities, district-wise distribution, education levels, and employment status, is lacking.
Government assistance and benefits for PwDs are contingent on possessing a disability certificate. However, only approximately 50% of PwDs have obtained certificates from their respective states/UTs. The implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 has increased the recognized disabilities from 7 to 21, broadening the scope of support and acknowledgement for PwDs.
Through these initiatives and schemes, the Government is actively working to empower and support Persons with Disabilities in various aspects of their lives, including education, accessibility, rehabilitation, and overall well-being.
The UDID Project holds considerable potential to contribute to India’s Digital India objectives by streamlining the application process for Disability Cards and Certificates for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). However, to achieve universal application, several challenges such as low awareness, elevated rejection rates, and substantial pending applications need to be addressed.
At the district level, where responsibilities are numerous and resources are limited, there is a need for enhanced implementation of the UDID Project. To bolster this, it is crucial for state and Central Governments to provide adequate infrastructural and financial support. This support will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of the UDID Project across districts.
The Pilot Project of UDID was first launched in the Ratlam District of Madhya Pradesh. Based on the experience from implementation in Madhya Pradesh, the Government launched the UDID Project in 15 states in the First Phase.
The UDID project was initially launched by the Government of India in 2016. Since 1st June 2021, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has made this project mandatory for all the states and UTs. Now all the states and UTs have to compulsorily grant these UDID Certificates only through the UDID Portal.
The type of disabilities that are included in the UDID Project are Cerebral Palsy, Low Vision, Blindness, Leprosy - Cured, Locomotor impairment, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation, and Hearing Impairment.
The UDID Card application may be rejected during the verification phase by the designated Medical Board or Specialist due to poor visibility of scanned disability documents.
When the card is issued to a person over 18 years of age, the UDID Card has lifelong validity. But the card is required to be updated every five years if it is issued to someone below 18 years of age. In the case of permanent disability, no fresh medical examination is to be done again and again.
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