Govt to set up medical boards in all state-run hospitals to aid differently-abled get certificates

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has begun the process of setting up of medical boards in all state-run hospitals right from sub-divisional to tertiary level for identifying the level of disability of applicants, and accordingly issue them certificates of disability.

Under the new Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD), 2016, that came into force in 2016, 21 disabilities have been classified, and any individual seeking a certificate of disability needs to be identified as having at least one of them before they get the certificate. Before the Act was amended there were only seven such disabilities mentioned in the RPWD Act.

"Before the new RPWD Act was implemented, a one-man medical board was enough to identify the extent of disability and issue certificates. But now with 21 disabilities being classified in the repealed RPWD Act, we have begun the process of setting up of medical boards with doctors for identifying the disability index and then issue certificates," said Shashi Panja, Minister of State for Women & Child Development & Social Welfare.

People suffering from diseases like haemophilia and thalassaemia have been brought under the purview of the amended Act.

The minister added that the state government has already made websites of 22 departments — disable-friendly — so that any differently-abled person can learn about the various social welfare schemes of the government.

Panja attended a government programme at the University Institute Hall on Tuesday, to mark the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where 40 awards in various categories were given to differently-abled individuals for their work, by senior officials of the department.

"Every year we give away awards to numerous differently-abled individuals to acknowledge their achievements," a senior official of the department informed.

He added that economic development is one of the important pillars of 'empowerment and inclusion'.

"We are organising 'Rojgar Mela 2019', on December 4 and 5, at College Square. At the mela (fair) many companies will conduct interviews of differently-abled individuals who are registered with employment bank and extend job opportunities that will enable them to lead a better life," the official maintained.

The differently-abled persons will also be given an opportunity to share their experiences and narrate their success stories. The artefacts made by them will also be exhibited at the fair.