The Union Government is ready with Universal Identity cards for the persons with disabilities. All the preparatory work has been done including design of the card by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Very soon these will be passed on to the States for the distribution. State Governments have been asked to gear up themselves to identify the persons with disabilities in their respective states, so that within one and half year all the disabled persons can have universal identity cards. This was stated by the union minister for social justice and empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot while addressing State social welfare monster's conference here today. He said that these cards will be linked with the Aadhar card and data will be available online which will ensure transparency. The Universal Identity Cards will help the persons with disabilities to avail all Government schemes and reservation. These Cards will be recognisable by all the States.
Referring various scholarship schemes for the persons with disabilities started by NDA government in 2014-15, Shri Gehlot said that the Union Government is very keen that all deserving students with disabilities are assisted with these scholarships. He urged the State governments to launch a campaign from next academic year to identify such students, to award them scholarships. He said that to avoid any delay and leakages his ministry has adopted DBT channel to pass on the scholarships.Shri Gehlot said that his ministry has committed to provide skill training to about 25 lakh the persons with disabilities and to arrange finance through NHFDC to economically empower them. He informed that during last 2 years 46000 disabled have been provided skill training and financial support by the corporation for starting their own venture.Shri Gehlot asked the State Government to take advantage of the scheme for providing assistive devices to the persons with disabilities. He said that his ministry will provide all possible support in this effort. He said during last 2 years, 1850 camps have already been organised and 4,40,000 persons have been benefitted.
Under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, States were advised to give approval for the building plan only when it has accessibility provisions for the persons with disabilities as per recently issued NBCC code. He urged State Governments to identify public utility buildings, to carry out access audit and making it disabled friendly.The minister said that a plan has been prepared to make about 3000 identified Union Government and State Government sites accessible to the persons with disabilities. 650 such sites already have been made accessible for the persons with disabilities.Conference deliberated upon the progress of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development for the persons with disabilities and creating awareness about the scheme by the states, rehabilitation of the persons with disabilities through DDRC, scholarship schemes for the persons with disabilities, reservation in Government jobs of the persons with disabilities and issue of universal identity card. The daylong conference was attended by the Social Welfare ministers from the States/UTs. Senior officials from the Union Government and the States also participated.