Executive Summary:
This document addresses a question in Lok Sabha regarding delays in issuing Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. It provides data on UDID applications, cards issued, and pending applications in these districts. It also details central government welfare schemes available to UDID beneficiaries in West Bengal and funds sanctioned. The answer was provided on 22/07/2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **UDID Card Status in Darjeeling and Kalimpong:**
* Darjeeling: 2180 applications received, 1057 UDID cards issued, 1120 applications pending.
* Kalimpong: 455 applications received, 352 UDID cards issued, 101 applications pending.
* A fixed timeline for 100% enrollment of Divyangs cannot be determined due to state government involvement and multiple processing stages.
* **Central Government Welfare Schemes for UDID Beneficiaries in West Bengal:**
* ADIP Scheme: Provides assistive devices for physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation.
* DDRS: Offers financial aid to NGOs for rehabilitation projects.
* Scholarships for Students with Disabilities: Financial support for education from school to higher education.
* Accessible India Campaign (AIC): Aims to create a barrier-free environment.
* NDFDC: Provides loans for self-employment and skill training.
* UDID Project: Offers a digital ID for seamless access to welfare schemes.
* **Financial Information (West Bengal):**
* ADIP Scheme: Funds utilized over the past 11 years totaling ₹11614.10 Lakh, benefiting 1,81,839 individuals.
* DDRS: Funds released in the last 3 years, with ₹675.72 Lakh released in 2024-25 benefiting 7766 individuals.
* Scholarships for Students with Disabilities: Various amounts sanctioned between 2021-2025.
* AIC: Funds released and utilization certificates pending.
* NDFDC: ₹771.94 Lakh released for self-employment loans (1724 beneficiaries) and ₹244.51 Lakh for skill training (3028 beneficiaries) cumulatively. ₹30.37 Lakh for self-employment loans (3 beneficiaries) and ₹8.60 Lakh for skill training (159 beneficiaries) during financial year 2024-2025.
* UDID Scheme: ₹29.00 lakh released.
* **State Government Welfare Schemes:**
* Information regarding state government welfare schemes is not provided in this document, as these schemes are managed by the respective states.
Impact Analysis:
* **Divyangs (Persons with Disabilities):**
* Impact: Access to assistive devices, rehabilitation services, educational scholarships, accessible infrastructure, financial assistance for self-employment, and streamlined access to welfare schemes via UDID.
* Action Required: Apply for UDID cards and avail themselves of relevant central government schemes.
* **NGOs and Agencies:**
* Impact: Opportunity to receive financial aid through DDRS for implementing rehabilitation projects.
* Action Required: Apply for financial assistance under DDRS and implement projects effectively.
* **State Government of West Bengal:**
* Impact: Responsible for the medical assessments required for UDID card issuance, which affects the rate of UDID card distribution.
* Action Required: Expedite the medical assessment process to accelerate UDID card issuance. Manage and provide information regarding their own state-level welfare schemes.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment):**
* Impact: Accountable for monitoring UDID card issuance progress and disbursing funds for various welfare schemes.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring UDID card issuance and ensure timely disbursement of funds for central government schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Darjeeling district, West Bengal: A district in the state of West Bengal, India, mentioned in the context of UDID card issuance.
Kalimpong district, West Bengal: A district in the state of West Bengal, India, mentioned in the context of UDID card issuance.
Unique Disability ID (UDID): A digital identification card for persons with disabilities, aimed at providing seamless access to welfare schemes and entitlements.
West Bengal: A state in India, recipient of funds under various schemes for persons with disabilities.
Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase Fitting of aids Appliances (ADIP) Scheme: A scheme that provides assistive devices to persons with disabilities to support their physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation.
Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): A scheme that provides financial aid to NGOs and agencies for implementing rehabilitation projects for persons with disabilities.
Accessible India Campaign (AIC): A nationwide campaign aiming to create a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC): A corporation that provides loans to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) for self-employment and skill training.
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-346
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22/07/2025
Issuance of UDID Card
346. SHRI RAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the delay in issuing Unique Disability ID (UDID)
cards in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts;
(b) the total number of UDID application received, number of UDID card issued and number
of pending applications in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts till date, along with the
timeline for ensuring 100% enrolment of Divyangs; and
(c) the details of the assistances that the UDID beneficiaries can avail through both State and
Central Government welfare schemes in West Bengal?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a) Yes sir
(b) The required details are given in the table below:
District Total Application UDID card Pending Application
Name received issued
Darjeeling 2180 1057 1120
Kalimpong 455 352 101
Since the medical authority falls under the state government and the
enrolment process involves multiple stages, a fixed timeline for 100% enrolment
of Divyangs cannot be determined.
(c) The assistance that the UDID beneficiaries can avail through Central Government welfare
schemes in West Bengal are:(i) Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/ Fitting of aids/ Appliances (ADIP)
Scheme provides persons with disabilities durable and modern assistive devices to support
their physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation.
(ii) Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) provides financial aid to NGOs
and agencies for implementing rehabilitation projects for persons with disabilities.
(iii) Scholarships for Students with Disability in West Bengal provide financial support
across six components, from school to higher education, including fellowships, overseas
studies, and free coaching for competitive exams.
(iv) Accessible India Campaign (AIC) under SIPDA Scheme aims to create a barrier-free
environment for persons with disabilities across built infrastructure, transportation, and the
ICT ecosystem.
(v) National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) provide loan to
Person with Disability (PwD) for self employment and skill training.
(vi) Unique Disability ID (UDID) Project offers a digital ID to persons with disabilities,
ensuring seamless access to welfare schemes and entitlements.
The fund sanctioned to the West Bengal under above mentioned schemes are provided
in Annexure.
The State government welfare schemes are managed by their respective states. Hence, nil
information may be treated in respect of State Government Welfare schemes.
******Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 346 to
be answered on 22/07/2025 regarding “Issuance of UDID Card”
Funds sanctioned to West Bengal under various schemes
a) ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES FOR PURCHASE/ FITTING
OF AIDS/ APPLIANCES (ADIP) SCHEME
The main objective of the Scheme is to provide grants-in-aid to the various implementing
agencies (National Institutes/Composite Regional Centers/Artificial Limbs Manufacturing
Corporation of India (ALIMCO)/District Disability Rehabilitation Centers/State Corporations
in the field of Disabilities/other Local Bodies/NGOs) so that they are in a position to assist
needy persons with disabilities in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically
manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances to promote their physical, social and
psychological rehabilitation and enhancing their economic potential.
Funds sanctioned in West Bengal State for the past 11 years under the ADIP Scheme:
Financial Year Number of Beneficiaries Funds Utilized (in Lakhs)
2014-15 13,085 500.25
2015-16 13,988 1163.02
2016-17 25,199 1149.95
2017-18 17,602 732.64
2018-19 21,384 1321.46
2019-20 18,047 825.51
2020-21 14,855 713.05
2021-22 7,507 547.50
2022-23 25,174 2349.90
2023-24 10,424 962.32
2024-25 14,574 1348.50
Total 1,81,839 11614.10
b) Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)
Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided to Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) for various projects for the welfare/empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(PwDs). The objective of the scheme is to create an enabling environment to ensure equal
opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities and to
encourage voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Funds sanctioned in West Bengal under DDR Scheme in last 3 years is as follows:-Year Fund released (in lakh) Number of beneficiaries
2022-23 811.67 4424
2023-24 782.79 7162
2024-25 675.72 7766
c) Scholarships for Students with Disabilities in West Bengal
This Department is implementing scheme titled 'Scholarships for Students with
Disabilities' with the six components to empower students with disabilities to pursue
education from school level to doctorate level so as to enable them to earn their livelihood
and find a dignified place in the society.
Funds sanctioned under Scholarships scheme:-
(Amount in Crore)
Sr. State/ 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
No UT
Benefi Amount Benefic Amount Benefic Amount Benef Amount
ciaries iaries iaries iciarie
s
1 West 512 3.49 459 4.49 596 5.22 28 0.70
Bengal
d) Accessible India Campaign under SIPDA Scheme:-
Amount released/sanctioned and pending UCs in respect of GIA released under the barrier
free & AIC Sub-Scheme of SIPDA (as on 31.03.2025)
State/UTs Year Amount Amount of UCs pending % of UC
released Utilization (Rs. in lakh) Pending
(Rs. in lakh) Certificates/refund from
received State/UT in
(Rs. in lakh) total
West Bengal 2016-17 157.92 157.92 0.00 0.00%
(Barrier
2022-23 76.53 0 76.53 100.00%
Free)
West Bengal 2017-18 100.18 100.18 0.00 0.00%
(AIC) 189.34 189.34 0.00 0.00%
2018-19 150.66 118.64 32.02 21.25%
954.56 774.39 180.17 18.87%
2021-22 297.50 0 297.50 100.00%Total 1926.69 1340.47 586.22 30.43%
e) NATIONAL DIVYANGJAN FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
(NDFDC):-
i) The details of loan released under NDFDC loan schemes and skill training organised by
NDFDC under SIPDA Grant in the state of West Bengal are as follows (cumulative):-
Self Employment Loan Skill Training Rojgar Mela
Amount 771.94 244.51 NIL
released (In
Lakh)
Number of 1724 3028
beneficiaries
ii) The details of loan released under NDFDC loan schemes and skill training organised
by NDFDC under SIPDA Grant in the state of West Bengal during last financial year
(2024-2025) are as follows:-
Self Skill Rojgar Mela
Employment Training
Loan
Amount 30.37 8.60 NIL
released (In
Lakh)
Number of 03 159
beneficiaries
(f.) Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID):-
An amount of Rs. 29.00 lakh has been released under UDID Scheme.
*****