In a gazette notification dated April 27, the Centre has said that aadhaar cards will now serve as the identification document to avail the services and subsidies provided by District Disability Rehabilitation Centres.
With the Centre defending aadhaar cards in the Supreme Court (SC), the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has made the cards mandatory for the differently abled to access schemes and grants offered by the department.
In a gazette notification dated April 27, the Centre has said that aadhaar cards will now serve as the identification document to avail the services and subsidies provided by District Disability Rehabilitation Centres. The notification said that the aadhaar card "simplifies the government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner".
The notification also stated that the identification number "obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity".
Those who do not have aadhaar cards, the notification stated, will have to apply for one by June 30. In the interim period, documents such as aadhaar enrollment slip, disability certificate, voter ID, PAN card, passport, ration card, government employee ID, bank or post office passbook, driving licence, etc will be accepted.
As per the 2011 census, there are over 2.68 crore differently abled people in India, which accounts for 2.21 per cent of the country's total population of 121 crore. Apart from aadhaar cards, the Social Justice Ministry also has a smart card for the differently abled, which serves as an ID to avail several schemes under the ministry.
A ministry official said that a similar card is on the anvil to avail drug rehabilitation schemes. "There is a conversation going on in the matter, and we will come to a conclusion on that soon," said the official.
ID at airports to go
Air passengers may soon be able to enter airports without ID cards. The aviation ministry is also exploring the possibility of check-in process through fingerprint and iris scan.
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