Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot has said that the work of distribution of Universal Identification Cards with nation-wide validity to differently-abled people will be completed in two years.
The survey work will provide information on the exact number of differently-abled persons in the nation and their social-economic status. The ID cards would ensure that they get easy access to government-sponsored schemes, Mr. Gehlot said at a programme held under the aegis of district administration and Department for the Welfare of Senior Citizens and Disabled at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan in the city on Tuesday.
Mr. Gehlot said that so far, persons suffering from seven types of physical disabilities were considered to be differently-abled and the Centre would pass an order to update this number to 19. The Centre, under the Accessible India Campaign, would develop disabled-friendly infrastructure in 100 buildings in 48 cities.
The disabled-friendly ramps, toilets and helpdesks would be setup in such buildings, he added.
Mr. Gehlot distributed walking sticks and hearing aids to 204 beneficiaries on the occasion.
Shivamogga MP B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shikaripur MLA B.Y. Raghavendra, MLC M.B. Bhanuprakash, Deputy Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri, Superintendent of Police Ravi Channannavar and CEO of Zilla Panchayat Rakesh Kumar were present.
