Lok Sabha Question No. 1742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Central Schemes for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (DIVYANGJAN)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1742 TO BE ANSWERED ON - 10/02/2026

## CENTRAL SCHEMES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

1742. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  Central  schemes  for  persons  with  disabilities  (Divyangjan)  being  implemented  in  the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
- (b) the number of beneficiaries covered under these schemes during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy of identification, disability certification, accessibility and delivery of benefits to differently abled persons in the islands, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any gaps or challenges have been identified in effective implementation due to the geographical isolation of Lakshadweep and if so, the steps taken to address them; and
- (e)  the  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  for  the  welfare  of  persons  with  disabilities  in Lakshadweep during the said period?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI B. L. VERMA)

(a) to (e) : Relief to the disabled is a State subject by the virtue of entry 9 of the State List of the Constitution  of  India.  the  Government  of  India  has  undertaken  several  initiatives  for  the empowerment, upliftment and welfare of Divyangjans. The Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilites Act, 2016 for empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The RPwD Act, 2016, effective from 19.04.2017, expanded disabilities from 7 to 21, and ensures rights like equality, education, employment and accessibility.

In  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  Department  of  Empowerment  of  Persons  with Disabilities  (Divyangjan)  supports  the  Divyangjan's  welfare,  skill  development,  rehabilitation through its  major  initiatives  and  schemes  which  inter  alia  include:  Assistance  to  Persons  with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme, Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation  Scheme  (DDRS),  Scholarship  Schemes  for  Students  with  Disabilities,  and SIPDA-Scheme for  implementation  of  RPwD  Act,  2016  comprising  National  Action  Plan  for Skill  Development,  Unique  Disability  Indentity  Card  (UDID)  and  Creation  of  Barrier  Free Environment etc. All these schemes are demand driven in nature.

The identification of disability through certification and the subsequent delivery of benefits to all 21 categories of disabilities in India is largely managed through the UDID Portal (https://swavlambancard.gov.in/). The UDID  Portal has been instituted where hospitals authorized by respective State/UT Governments have been on boarded for issuance of disability certificates and Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) to eligible Divyangjan. It is intended to be a single document for all government schemes, aimed at eliminating the need for separate, repeated documentation for different benefits. As per the data available on the UDID Portal the number of UDID Cards issued in Lakshadweep in last three years and current year are as below:-

|   S.No. | FY                         |   No. of UDID cards |
|---------|----------------------------|---------------------|
|       1 | 2022-23                    |                  17 |
|       2 | 2023-24                    |                  70 |
|       3 | 2024-25                    |                 186 |
|       4 | 2025-26 (as on 06.02.2026) |                 254 |

During the last three years and the current year, details of beneficiaries covered under the ADIP Scheme are as follows:-

| S.No.FY   |                            | Number of beneficiariesFund Utilized (Rs.in Lakhs)   | Number of beneficiariesFund Utilized (Rs.in Lakhs)   |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | 2022-23                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |
| 2.        | 2023-24                    | 15                                                   | 1.66                                                 |
| 3.        | 2024-25                    | 257                                                  | 18.83                                                |
| 4.        | 2025-26 (as on 06.02.2026) | 17                                                   | 1.33                                                 |
|           | Total                      | 289                                                  | 21.82                                                |

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