Parliament Question: UDID card coverage in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (DIVYANGJAN) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2220 ANSWERED ON- 11/03/2026 UDID CARD COVERAGE IN WEST BENGAL 2220. SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA: Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has assessed gap between total number of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in West Bengal as per Census 2011 and number of Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards issued in State so far; (b) whether despite the UDID project being launched nationally in May, 2016, West Bengal was onboarded onto the centralized system only in September, 2024, resulting in delayed coverage; (c) whether Ministry has fixed any time-bound target or roadmap for achieving 100 per cent UDID card coverage for eligible PwDs in West Bengal; and (d) if so, timeline proposed and additional steps taken to ensure universal UDID enrolment in the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L. VERMA) (a): The Unique Disability Identity (UDID) sub scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India. Under the UDID sub scheme, an online centralized platform namely UDID portal (https://swavlambancard.gov.in/) has been instituted where hospitals authorized by therespective State/UT Governments have been onboarded for issuance of disability certificates and Unique Disability Identity cards (UDID) to the eligible divyangjan. As the State of West Bengal had decided to onboard onto the centralized Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal in September 2024, the coverage of UDID cards in the State has been comparatively lower so far, resulting in a large gap between the number of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) as per Census 2011 and the number of UDID cards issued. (b): Yes, the State of West Bengal had decided to onboard onto the centralized UDID portal in September, 2024, which has contributed to relatively lower coverage of UDID card issuance in the State. (c) and (d): The Central Government acts as a policy maker and facilitator of centralized online UDID portal.The issuance of UDID cards is carried out by notified hospitals authorized by the respective State/UT Governments based on the disability assessment. The pace, reasons, and timelines for issuance depend upon the efforts and availability of medical infrastructure at the disposal of the concerned State Governments. However, the Central Government has undertaken following steps to make the Disability certification system uniform, standardized and hassle free for the Hospitals as well as for the Divyangjan with a view to ensure universal enrolment in the country including the State of West Bengal: i. Establishment of UDID Facilitation Centres in all National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) to assist persons with disabilities in enrolment of application. ii. Publication of revised Disability Assessment Guidelines dated 14th March, 2024 and organization of eight (08) zonal training programmes covering around 6000 medical professionals, including Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and Specialists, to ensure uniform, fair and efficient assessment. iii. Periodic training and orientation programmes for officials and medical authorities to facilitate effective implementation of the UDID project and ensure timely generation of the UDID card. iv. Regular meetings by the senior officers of the Department with the States/UTs. *****