Disability certificates sell for Rs 10-25k a piece!

Thursday, 30 08 2012 10:14

Srinagar: There is no dearth of the corrupt people working within the system who make it happen. Touts in the government hospitals can get an otherwise physically normal person an official certificate confirming his or her disability.

These certificates practically change the destinies of people - as disabled people are extended a string of benefits by the government in the form of reservation in admissions for professional courses and recruitment in government services.

“A number of normal people have managed these certificates with the help of dishonest public servants and thus snatched the rights of the deserving,” confirmed a senior government official.

Getting a disability certificate has become virtually a child's play, irrespective of the area one stays in. Amounts varying between Rs10,000 and Rs 25,000 are charged for issuing such a certificate in a week’s time, the official added.

“The quota meant for us benefits others,” rued Javaid Ahmad Tak, chairman Humanity Welfare Organization, Helpline NGO.

“Fake disability certificate is a racket run by certain medical boards and doctors. The most common disability shown in these fake documents is that of hearing and speech,” Tak added.

The ‘disability certificate’ is issued by a medical authority notified by the state government. Each such medical authority is constituted at the district level.

These medical authorities receive applications from the disabled people, and subsequently assess their disabilities and then issue the certificate within a week from the receipt of application.

Rules state that a person with 40 percent impairment is entitled for a disability certificate.

Only a government doctor is authorized to issue the certificate.

An applicant is required to present his or her case before the medical authority constituted for the purpose.