In accordance with the Central Government’s intention, Minister for Social Welfare Dr. Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneyaswamy has instructed authorities to take the required steps to issue identity cards to people with disabilities in the state.

The minister met with officials at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Friday to examine issues pertaining to the care of the elderly and handicapped. SADAREM certifications and the PMJAY Vandana health program for the elderly were the main topics of conversation.

The minister said at the meeting that measures should be done to make it easier to book SADAREM slots via the Manamitra WhatsApp Governance system, Meeseva centers, and gram secretariats. Within a month after the slot booking date, he directed that SADAREM credentials be issued. In order to prevent challenges for handicapped people traveling from distant places and tribal hamlets, he further emphasized the need of setting up SADAREM camps.

The minister emphasized that the Central Government has taken steps to provide people with impairments identity cards that would include information on their percentage of disability as well as other personal data. In order to prepare and issue these identity cards, officials were directed to take action. The minister further said that everyone over 70 will be eligible for free medical care up to Rs 5 lakh under the PMJAY Vandana plan.