Sassoon issued 5,065 certificates to differently abled through SADM

People with disabilities face physical,social and economic barriers in society. The state health department’s move to introduce the software was to check for any malpractice while issuing certificates. Under the initiative,a team of doctors evaluate physically-challenged people and feed the data into the computer for the software to evaluate the extent of disability. The theme for this year’s World Disabled Day (December 3),is break barriers,open doors for an inclusive society and development for all.

To expedite the process where disabled can avail of jobs,the software has helped in providing certificates to 41,258 people at 26 district hospitals across the state. As many as 16,723 persons with orthopaedic impairments,11,058 visually impaired and 7,222 hearing impaired were issued certificates besides 6,301 mentally retarded and 224 with other mental illnessess. Pune District Hospital at Aundh issued as many as 2,237 certificates and Sassoon 5,065.

Dr Ashok Nandapurkar,District Civil Surgeon,told Newsline that a large number of people who apply for disability certificates have orthopaedic,hearing and visual impairments. Pune district hospital issued 972 certificates to people with orthopaedic impairments,900 to hearing impaired and 328 to visually

impaired.

At 16 medical colleges in the state,as many as 14,087 disability certificates have been issued online,of which the highest have been issued by B J Medical College and Sassoon.

According to Dr D G Kulkarni,Medical Superintendent,B J Medical College and Sassoon,3,083 persons have orthopaedic impairments,612 visual and 386 hearing. As many as 947 mentally retarded have been issued disability certificates,he added.

Nandapurkar said at times there are technical issues and we have urged the BSNL to up the internet speed to provide better and fast service.