https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Government Proposes Changes to Disability Certification Rules, Raising Concerns

The proposed changes aim to tighten the requirements for obtaining a disability certificate, ostensibly in response to a recent controversy involving the misuse of such certificates by a former trainee IAS officer.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The Union government has released draft amendments to Rules 17 and 18 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules 2017, sparking significant concerns among disability advocates and the community. The proposed changes aim to tighten the requirements for obtaining a disability certificate, ostensibly in response to a recent controversy involving the misuse of such certificates by a former trainee IAS officer.

Under the new proposal, Rule 18 would see the certification period extended from one month to three months. A key issue with the amendment is the lack of clarity regarding when this three-month period begins. The current rules mandate that disability certificates be issued within one month “from the date of receipt of the application.” However, the amendment removes this specific deadline, stipulating that the certificate or Unique Disability ID (UDID) should be issued within three months “if any disability is diagnosed.”

This change has raised questions about whether the three-month timeline will commence from the date of the application or from when the medical authority confirms the diagnosis. This ambiguity has fueled concerns that the extension could lead to even longer delays in certificate issuance.

The existing one-month timeline is frequently not met, as evidenced by personal accounts from individuals like one co-author who applied for a certificate renewal but has yet to receive it after six hospital visits and over 50 days. The extension proposed in the draft amendments is feared to exacerbate these delays.

Advocates argue that the extended timeline will further hinder persons with disabilities (PwDs) who require certification for education, employment, and other critical documentation where deadlines are often strict. Instead of addressing the underlying issues causing delays in the current system, the new amendments are seen as potentially introducing more barriers and complications.

Disability rights organizations are calling for a review of the proposed changes, urging the government to focus on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the current certification process rather than extending the wait time. As the draft amendments are open for public feedback, there is hope that the concerns raised will lead to modifications that better support the needs of the disabled community.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Related Stories
NEWS
NHAI logo
NHAI To Enhance Project Monitoring with Drone Technology for Transparency and Efficiency
IAS Khilli Ram Meena
IAS Khilli Ram Meena Succeeds IAS Renu Sharma As Chief Secretary of Mizoram
IAS Chandrabhushan Kumar
IAS Chandra Bhushan Kumar Appointed New Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Closeup of word on wooden cube on wooden desk background concept - Fraud
Retired IFS Officer Duped of Rs 11.70 Lakh by Fraudulent Pension Officer
IAS R Alice Vaz
IAS R Alice Vaz Appointed Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi Ahead of Assembly Elections
IAS
IAS Officers' Association Resolves to Uphold Rule-Based Governance
IAS Shruti
IAS Shruti Takes Interim Charge as Yamuna Authority CEO
GAIL PSU
Vedanta Aluminium Partners with GAIL for Cleaner Energy Transition
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2024-11-20 at 18.06
Hyderabad's Transformation From The City of Pearls to Cyberabad
IMG-20241118-WA0002
The Journey Behind Kathakar Ki Diary | Video Interview 
GP Singh
They Aren’t Criminals, But IPS Officers, Standing Up To Political Pressure
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NHAI logo
NHAI To Enhance Project Monitoring with Drone Technology for Transparency and Efficiency
IAS Khilli Ram Meena
IAS Khilli Ram Meena Succeeds IAS Renu Sharma As Chief Secretary of Mizoram
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2024-11-20 at 18.06
IMG-20241118-WA0002
GP Singh
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT