- By Nidhi Giri
- Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:57 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
As part of draft amendments to the Rules of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, the ministry of social justice and empowerment has proposed issuing white unique disability ID (UDID) cards to those with less than 40 per cent disability. The move comes days after it came to light of Puja Khedkar, a former probationary IAS officer, getting three disability certificates from two hospitals in Ahmednagar and Pune districts by changing her name and surname and with different residential addresses.
White cards would be issued to those with disability levels below 40 per cent, yellow cards for 40-80 per cent disability, and blue cards for more than 80 per cent disability. The ministry published these draft changes, introducing a new colour-coded system for UDID cards on July 29.
The draft amendments have also proposed to extend the timeframe for issuing disability certificates and UDID cards to three months instead of one month. This extended timeline aims to allow medical authorities more time for a thorough assessment.
"The draft rules and a standard operating procedure have been in place and can be seen on our website. After the Khedkar case, we are taking caution and the entire system is being revamped. The Centre has sought suggestions on the draft rules before the end of this month, after which they will be implemented," a ministry official said, as quoted by a TOI report.
Puja Khedkar Case
UPSC cancelled Khedkar’s provisional candidature and barred her from future examinations. The commission issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) on July 18, accusing Khedkar of fraudulently exceeding permissible attempts by falsifying her identity. She requested an extension until August 4 to respond, but was instead given until July 30, which she missed.
Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, is accused of misrepresenting herself as an OBC non-creamy layer candidate and claiming disability without undergoing verification tests. The UPSC has filed a criminal case against her, alleging manipulation of her identity and personal details to gain entry into the civil service.
