India to make disability certificates more accessible
16/02/2010
India's National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People has announced amendments to Indian laws making it easier for people to obtain a disability certificate.
Known as the XI Plan, the changes mean disabled people no longer need to appear before a Medical Board - a panel of doctors who assess a person's disability in order to establish their benefit requirements.
Instead, those with disabilities can now see just one doctor who specialises in the nature of the disability, greatly reducing the time it takes to receive a disability certificate, the Hindu reports.
The current process means it can take up to six months for certificates to be sent out.
Javed Abidi, director of the centre, said: "Getting a disability certificate in India is a nightmare. Even in places like Delhi and Mumbai it is next to impossible."
The proposed amendment shifts the responsibility for issuing the disability certificate from the person with the disability to the state.
This announcement follows calls from Bollywood actor Aamir Khan for India to improve conditions and accessibility for those with physical disabilities.
Written by Simon Bassett
