16
Disability Certificates: The Center has tightened the process of verification of disability certificates for government recruitment and admission in educational institutions.
Disability Certificates: The Center has tightened the process of verification of disability certificates for government recruitment and admission in educational institutions. Officials will now have to verify every certificate and Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID) through the national portal. This step has been taken in response to the increase in cases related to fake or inflated disability claims, so as to prevent misuse of the quota reserved for persons with disabilities. Organizations wishing to access the API will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). With this new system, genuine disabled people will be assured of their rights and those taking wrong benefits will be punished. UDID will share this API with interested organizations, educational institutions or recruiters for jobs through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Misuse of reserved quota will stop
This step has been taken in response to the increase in cases related to fake or inflated disability claims, so as to prevent misuse of the quota reserved for persons with disabilities. Disability is defined as at least 40 percent disability, which is to be verified by the certifying person with disability. Only genuine PWD candidates satisfy both legal and functional requirements. Those who get the benefit of four percent reservation in government jobs and five percent reservation in higher education. As mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.
Now UDID verification mandatory
Under the updated norms, institutions have been asked to ensure digitization of manual disability certificates issued under the repealed 1995 Act on the UDID portal. In cases where an old certificate is presented, it must be validated by the issuing state authority. The new SOP will determine the eligibility of persons with disabilities for a particular job or course using tools and technologies. However, the DEPWD clarified that the disability evaluation establishes only the extent of the disability, not an individual’s fitness for specific employment or educational needs. To make the verification process accessible to persons with disabilities, the Ministry has directed that adequate hospitals be empaneled across the country so that candidates do not have to travel long distances for assessment.
Also read: Cheating in the name of job: Hyderabad youth pushed into Russia-Ukraine war, requests help from Foreign Minister
