Bhubaneswar, July 22 (UDN): The Odisha government has instructed all districts to speed up the disability assessment process to ensure timely issuance of Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards for eligible persons with disabilities.
The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SS&EPD) has directed district authorities to conduct regular Medical Board meetings and take necessary steps to clear pending applications at the earliest.
According to data available on the UDID portal, more than 13.32 lakh applications have been registered in Odisha so far. Of these, around 9.73 lakh UDID cards have been generated, while 44,350 applications remain pending at different stages of processing.
The directive follows concerns raised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding delays in disability assessment and re-verification, especially in cases involving government employees with disabilities.
The state government has stressed that eligible persons should receive services without unnecessary delays or difficulties. District officials have been asked to ensure the availability of required medical specialists, organise regular assessment camps, and prioritise pending applications to complete the process within the prescribed timeline.
Authorities have also been instructed to submit an Action Taken Report detailing steps taken to improve the assessment and card issuance process.
The initiative aims to strengthen the delivery of disability welfare services and ensure that persons with disabilities receive timely access to government benefits and support through the UDID system.
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