The Centre is reportedly mulling overa proposal to issue universal identity cards to persons with disabilities, for which a survey will be conducted.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot informed media of this proposed move on Thursday while presiding over a review meeting on functioning of seven national institutions serving persons with disabilities.
Gehlot noted that if the criteria of more than 40 percent disability is applied, then there are 7.5 crore disabled people in the country.
He also observed that the actual number of persons with disabilities was not available due to a variety of reasons ranging from absence of proper certificates to identity cards.
Some persons with disabilities may not have identity cards or they do not have physician certificates about the percentage of their disability, he added.
