PFB submits memorandum to Central Minister to treat UDID card with PwDs for facilities in Railway
PFB submits memorandum to Central Minister to treat UDID card with PwDs for facilities in Railway
HARISH MONGA
Ferozepur, November 29, 2023: Progressive Federation for the Blind (PFB), Punjab Branch – exclusively working for the uplifting of the visually impaired community – led by Anil Gupta, General Secretary, submitted a memorandum to Varinder Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Employment of Disability Govt. of India, New Delhi, the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, New Delhi, seeking the directions for Railways to treat UDID (Unique Disability Identity ) Card for providing all the facilities, which are available for the persons with disabilities, instead of asking for submission of separate forms introduced by the railways.
Added here, as per the RPWD Act, 2016, a UDID card can be issued by the home district hospital as well as the hospital where the PWD is taking medical treatment. The Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for PwDs and issuing a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities. The project will not only encourage transparency, efficiency, and ease of delivering government benefits to the person with disabilities but also ensure uniformity. The project will also help streamline the tracking of the physical and financial progress of beneficiaries at all levels of the hierarchy of implementation – from village level, block level, District level, State level, and National level.
Speaking to the media persons, Anil Gupta said, it is a matter of regret that Indian Railways is not giving adequate attention to UDID cards of persons with disabilities for the services available to them in Railways like reservation, etc. The visually impaired persons – who come under the category of Persons with Disabilities – had to submit separate forms again, ignoring the UDID card issued by the Government of India as proof of their disability.
Making an appeal to the Central Minister, Anil Gupta showing the UDID issued to him, quoted the example that when one wants to get a ticket from the railways these tickets should be made available on UDID card only. He said, for the convenience of these PwDs, the earlier provision of either railway e-card or concession form should be scrapped and UDID cards already issued by the government should be accepted for all intents and purposes for PwDs.
In the memorandum, Gupta has also asked for an appointment for a meeting to express in person and resolve the difficulties being faced by Persons with Disabilities, especially visually impaired persons.
