How to apply for UDID and why is it needed?
29 Jan, 2021 | 6 min
Christel Naomi Roberts
The Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card is issued to Persons with Disabilities as a proof of disability and in order to ensure that they can avail benefits, help and assistance as and when required. This card is also commonly called the Swavlamban Card.
Talking about the benefits of the UDID card from the perspective of Persons with Disability (PWD), I was having a conversation with two of my co-workers, Dhanraj and Veeresh who are PWDs, the other day. Dhanraj was mentioning that it has become really easy to carry the proof of disability now than before while he had gone to apply for his bus pass. I was intrigued to know more.
Christel: What are you talking about, Dhanraj?
Dhanraj: Before the UDID card, I had to carry multiple documents like disability details, ID proof, and disability certificate and the process of applying for a bus pass was a lengthy one. We had to obtain signatures from different people and so on, but now all I have to carry is just a card, that is the size of a debit card and the application process is done on-spot.
Christel: Oh! that’s good to know. What about the other reservations and concessions?
Dhanraj: It’s the same for all processes of claiming discounts, concessions for bus tickets, railway reservations metro tickets, and so on. Even applying for jobs etc. It is really easy now.
Christel: What are the other benefits of the UDID?
Dhanraj: This card, unlike the disability proof and certificate, doesn’t need renewal, the UDID has life-time validity. Also, before UDID, if we had to apply for government jobs, the format for proof of disability would differ for state and central government jobs whereas, now just the card is sufficient.
Christel: Hmm… Is it easily accessible? how long does it take to apply for it? and how good is the awareness and utilization of it among the PWDs?
Dhanraj: The application process for the UDID card is done online and is a very long and detailed one. In the process of uploading the required documents on to the portal while applying for it, even if there are slight errors like, if the scanned copy was blurred and so on, the applicants would be put on the waiting list, and the application would-be put-on hold. This is something one has to be careful about.”
Veeresh: And the time period is not consistent. The Government had initially told that it would take about 3 months to reach them, but for some, it took three months, for some six months. A few of my friends who applied along with are still waiting for almost a year now.
Dhanraj: Still many of them are not completely aware of it, since it is new, but in the last year many of them had applied and the delay would have also been a result of the pandemic.
Veeresh: But, very soon, this will be made the only valid proof of disability, and all of them must obtain it. It would be good if the government finds a way to spread awareness about it at large.
With having to know so much about the UDID card, I decided to spread the word among people I know from that day on. You too can help to spread the word on UDID. Do your bit today.
- Register on the UDID Web portal. http://www.swavlambancard.gov.in/pwd/application
- Login using the credentials given to you and “Apply”. Read all instructions before proceeding with the application process.
- Upload a Colour Photograph and all the other necessary documents as mentioned in the form.
- Take a print out of the application and submit the data to the CMO Office / Medical Authority
- Post verification by the concerned agency, the officials will conduct an assessment and give feedback about the disability.
- Medical Board will review the feedback and mark the disability percentage.
- The Disability Certificate and the UDID Card will be generated and sent to the concerned individual at the registered address.
If you face any difficulty, during the process – feel free to reach out to the email ID given on the portal. disability-udid@gov.in