Government Developing a National Database for Precise Disability Statistics
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) An estimated 2.68 crore individuals with disabilities reside in India, constituting 2.21 percent of the entire population. The government has initiated the development of a National Database for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to achieve a more precise count, as shared with Parliament on Friday.
The proposed database will act as a reliable source for determining the estimated PwD population in the nation over time, stated Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, in Lok Sabha.
Patel highlighted that the most significant categories of disability include mobility impairments, hearing impairments, and vision impairments, with approximately 54.36 lakh, 50.72 lakh, and 50.33 lakh individuals affected, respectively.
In response to inquiries from Rani Srikumar of the DMK, MoS Patel indicated that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) relies on the Census 2011 for statistical data on the disabled population in India.
According to the findings from Census 2011, in a total population of 121 crore, around 2.68 crore individuals are identified as having disabilities, equating to 2.21 percent of the population, reported the MoS.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 recognizes 21 specified disabilities. MoS Patel announced that the DEPwD has initiated the Unique Disability ID (UDID) sub-scheme aimed at establishing a National Database for Persons with Disabilities throughout the country.
Government statistics reveal that there are approximately 19.98 lakh individuals with speech disabilities, 15.05 lakh with mental retardation, and 7.22 lakh diagnosed with mental illness. Furthermore, 21.16 lakh individuals have multiple disabilities and 49.27 lakh fall under the “Any Other” disability category, as per the MoS.
Detailing the objective of the PwD database, MoS Patel reiterated that the RPwD Act 2016 specifies 21 disabilities. “The DEPwD has launched the Unique Disability ID (UDID) sub-scheme to construct a National Database for Persons with Disabilities across the country. Under the UDID initiative, certificates of disability and Unique Disability Identity cards are provided to Persons with Disabilities through authorized medical practitioners designated by respective State Governments/Union Territories,” she explained.
This project aims to foster transparency and efficiency in the delivery of government benefits to individuals with disabilities. According to available records, nearly 1.15 crore UDID cards have been distributed since the project's inception. The UDID database is anticipated to serve as a dependable resource for estimating the PwD population in the country over time, added the MoS.
