ATDUM appeals for issuance of UDIDs, certificates without reassessment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 25 2024:
The All Tribal Disables' Union Manipur (ATDUM) submitted a representation to the Director/Chairman, State Medical Board, Manipur and Deputy Director (Disability), Social Welfare Department, Manipur to issue Unique Disability ID (UDID) and certificate without re-assessment for holders of previous Disability Certificates issued by the State Medical Board, Manipur with their existing percentage of disability.
According to a statement issued by ATDUM, the ongoing online process of issuing UDID and Disability Certificates involves re-assessment of certificate holders whose certificates were issued by the State Medical Board, Manipur, prior to the commencement of the online system.
In addition, ATDUM also pointed out that the State Medical Board, Manipur, constituted by the Government of Manipur, comprises members from the Social Welfare Department and Medical Department since last 10 years back.
The board members include officers from the Social Welfare Department and specialized Government doctors as the issuing authority, maintained the ATDUM statement.
Asserting that once a certificate is issued by this legally constituted authority, it should be considered a valid document, ATDUM termed it perplexing and legally questionable that one issuing authority does not trust another authenticated and certified authority's document.
"This repeated assessment process causes undue hardship to persons with disabilities", reasoned ATDUM.
Stating that the ongoing procedure for issuing UDID and Disability Certificates is unacceptable, ATDUM has requested the process of re-assessment to be stopped and that UDIDs and Disability Certificates be issued without re-assessment to holders of previously issued certificates by the competent authority with their existing percentage of disability.