Differently abled persons in Vellore can now get their disability assessed and obtain the identity cards under a single roof.
The District Differently-abled Welfare Office, Vellore, had recently launched a single window system to facilitate issuing of national identity cards for the differently abled persons.
“We are organising a camp on the first Tuesday of every month at the Collectorate. This is the third month that we are holding the camp. Government doctors check the persons and assess the percentage of disability. They are then issued the national identity cards,” Joseph D. Ravi, the Welfare Officer said.
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Four government doctors – orthopaedician, ENT, ophthalmologist and psychiatrist – were present at the camp. Persons with 40 per cent and above disability are given the identity cards.
“The differently abled persons have to go to the government hospital to get the assessment certificate and then come to the office for the identity cards. While this system is also in place, we have also tried out this single window system,” he added.
On an average, at least 100 differently abled persons are attending the camps and getting the identity cards through these camps.
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Cards issued
On Tuesday, cards were issued to 104 persons. More number of persons with mental retardation were attending these camps.
The official said those attending the camps should compulsorily bring the residential proof such as ration card, voter’s ID card or Aadhaar.
“One of the instant benefits for the identity cards is 75 per cent concession for travelling in government express buses across Tamil Nadu. The differently abled persons have to give a photocopy of the identity card to the bus conductor. They will get 75 per cent concession on the ticket and there are no trip limitations,” he added.