**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 1742 in Lok Sabha concerning central schemes for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. It provides information on the schemes being implemented, the number of beneficiaries, the assessment of identification and delivery of benefits, challenges faced due to geographical isolation, and the funds allocated and utilized. The question was to be answered on February 10, 2026, and the data provided is current as of February 6, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Constitutional Provision:** Relief to the disabled is a State subject as per the Constitution of India.
* **Government Initiatives:** The Government of India has undertaken initiatives for the empowerment, upliftment, and welfare of Divyangjans, including enacting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016).
* **RPwD Act, 2016:**
* Effective since April 19, 2017.
* Expands the definition of disabilities from 7 to 21 categories.
* Ensures rights like equality, education, employment, and accessibility.
* **Departmental Support:** The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) supports welfare, skill development, and rehabilitation through initiatives and schemes, including:
* Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme.
* Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
* Scholarship Schemes for Students with Disabilities.
* SIPDA-Scheme for implementation of RPwD Act, 2016, including the Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) and Creation of Barrier Free Environment.
* All schemes are demand-driven.
* **UDID Portal:**
* The identification of disability through certification and the subsequent delivery of benefits to all 21 categories of disabilities in India is largely managed through the UDID Portal (https://swavlambancard.gov.in/).
* Hospitals authorized by State/UT Governments are on-boarded for issuing disability certificates and UDID.
* Aimed to be a single document for all government schemes, eliminating separate documentation.
* **UDID Card Issuance (Lakshadweep):**
* 2022-23: 17 cards
* 2023-24: 70 cards
* 2024-25: 186 cards
* 2025-26 (as of 06.02.2026): 254 cards
* **ADIP Scheme Beneficiaries (Lakshadweep):**
* 2022-23: Data not provided in document
* 2023-24: 15 beneficiaries (₹1.66 Lakhs utilized)
* 2024-25: 257 beneficiaries (₹18.83 Lakhs utilized)
* 2025-26 (as of 06.02.2026): 17 beneficiaries (₹1.33 Lakhs utilized)
* Total (Across all years): 289 beneficiaries (₹21.82 Lakhs utilized)
**Impact Analysis**
**Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in Lakshadweep**
* **Impact:** Benefits from central schemes and initiatives designed to empower and uplift persons with disabilities, including access to aids and appliances, rehabilitation services, scholarships, and a unified identification system through the UDID.
* **Action Required:** Eligible individuals should obtain disability certifications and UDID cards to access available schemes and benefits.
**State Government of Lakshadweep**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation of relief measures for persons with disabilities as it is a state subject. The central government provides support through various schemes.
* **Action Required:** Continue to coordinate with the central government and ensure effective implementation of schemes for persons with disabilities in Lakshadweep, including addressing challenges related to geographical isolation.
Key Entities Referenced
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: The main legislation regarding the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities, expanded disabilities from 7 to 21.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme: A major scheme to provide aids and appliances to persons with disabilities.
Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID): Single document for all government schemes to eliminate repeated documentation for different benefits.
Lakshadweep: The Union Territory where the central schemes are being implemented and to which the questions pertain.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(DIVYANGJAN)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1742
TO BE ANSWERED ON – 10/02/2026
CENTRAL SCHEMES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
1742. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the Central schemes for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) being implemented in the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
(b) the number of beneficiaries covered under these schemes during the last three years and the
current year;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy of identification, disability certification,
accessibility and delivery of benefits to differently abled persons in the islands, if so, the details
thereof;
(d) whether any gaps or challenges have been identified in effective implementation due to the
geographical isolation of Lakshadweep and if so, the steps taken to address them; and
(e) the funds allocated, released and utilised for the welfare of persons with disabilities in
Lakshadweep during the said period?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B. L. VERMA)
(a) to (e) : Relief to the disabled is a State subject by the virtue of entry 9 of the State List of the
Constitution of India. the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives for the
empowerment, upliftment and welfare of Divyangjans. The Government has enacted the Rightsof Persons with Disabilites Act, 2016 for empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The RPwD
Act, 2016, effective from 19.04.2017, expanded disabilities from 7 to 21, and ensures rights like
equality, education, employment and accessibility.
In pursuance of the provisions of this act, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (Divyangjan) supports the Divyangjan’s welfare, skill development, rehabilitation
through its major initiatives and schemes which inter alia include: Assistance to Persons with
Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme, Deendayal Divyangjan
Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), Scholarship Schemes for Students with Disabilities, and
SIPDA-Scheme for implementation of RPwD Act, 2016 comprising National Action Plan for
Skill Development, Unique Disability Indentity Card (UDID) and Creation of Barrier Free
Environment etc. All these schemes are demand driven in nature.
The identification of disability through certification and the subsequent delivery of benefits to all
21 categories of disabilities in India is largely managed through the UDID Portal
(https://swavlambancard.gov.in/). The UDID Portal has been instituted where hospitals
authorized by respective State/UT Governments have been on boarded for issuance of disability
certificates and Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) to eligible Divyangjan. It is intended to
be a single document for all government schemes, aimed at eliminating the need for separate,
repeated documentation for different benefits. As per the data available on the UDID Portal the
number of UDID Cards issued in Lakshadweep in last three years and current year are as below:-
S.No. FY No. of UDID cards
1. 2022-23 17
2. 2023-24 70
3. 2024-25 186
2025-26
4. 254
(as on 06.02.2026)
During the last three years and the current year, details of beneficiaries covered under the ADIP
Scheme are as follows:-
S.No. FY Number of beneficiaries Fund Utilized (Rs.in Lakhs)
1. 2022-23 - -
2. 2023-24 15 1.66
3. 2024-25 257 18.83
2025-26 17 1.33
4.
(as on 06.02.2026)
Total 289 21.82
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