Panaji: To understand the challenges faced by people living with disabilities, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has initiated the process to carry out a detailed and comprehensive survey across the state.
It marks the first time such an extensive exercise is being undertaken by the department. Director of DEPwD, Varsha Naik, said the primary objective is to create a reliable database of PwDs in the state.
The department has floated a tender to hire a private agency that will conduct the survey. The tender will be opened in the second week of May, following which the further process will begin, Naik said.
“The data would help the government understand the challenges faced by PwDs and enable the formulation of effective policies to support their employment and future planning. This is the first time our department is conducting such a survey,” Naik said.
“We have data from the 2011 census, but since then, more disabilities have been added. Now, we cover 21 types of disabilities. With this survey, our goal is to know their educational qualifications, where they live, and other important details.”
The 2011 survey had recorded around 35,000 PwDs in the state, but only 14,000 Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards have been issued so far, indicating a significant gap. Naik stressed the importance of identifying the actual number of PwDs and ensuring their registration under the UDID system so they can avail the benefits of various government schemes.
“Right now, we don’t have any comprehensive data on PwDs,” she said. “Once we have the data, we’ll know their needs and can reach out to them with government initiatives. Many may not even be aware of the benefits available to them under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.”
The upcoming survey will collect precise and geotagged data, covering all 21 disabilities recognised under the Act. “This is expected to help in shaping inclusive policies and improving services for PwDs across the state, Naik added.
