A successful Unique Disability ID (UDID) Publicity, Awareness & Enrollment Drive was conducted at the VDB Hall in Zunheboto on November 9, 2024. The event was organized to raise awareness about the UDID and facilitate the enrollment of individuals with disabilities in the district. The program was chaired by H Sasuli Sumi, Welfare Inspector, and aimed at empowering persons with disabilities through information about government schemes and services available to them.
The event began with an invocation by Aboli Aye, Associate Pastor of Women.
Y Tauhong Ngonyen, District Welfare Officer, Zunheboto, highlighted the significance of the UDID initiative in supporting and empowering people with disabilities. He emphasized the need for greater participation and enrollment in the program to ensure that every individual with a disability has access to government resources and welfare schemes.
A series of informative speeches followed from key resource persons:
Dr Josea Sema, ENT Specialist at Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital, shed light on the medical aspects of the UDID program, stating that, according to the 2011 Indian Census, 20% of the population has some form of disability. He underscored the importance of the UDID as a tool for accessing essential welfare schemes for individuals with disabilities.
Esther H Yepthomi, Retainer Lawyer at ZDLSA (Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority), discussed the legal rights and protections for individuals with disabilities under the Disability Act of 1995. She emphasized the importance of the Act in promoting equality, preventing discrimination, and fostering an inclusive society for people with disabilities.
Akihoto K, State Coordinator for UDID, provided an in-depth presentation on the objectives, benefits, and enrollment process of the UDID scheme. He explained that the UDID is a digital identification system launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to ensure that every person with a disability in the country receives a unique identity. This system simplifies access to various government services and schemes, making it easier for individuals to benefit from them.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Innoto K Achumi, Senior Supervisor, who expressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries, speakers, participants, and organizers for their contribution to the success of the event. Nupato Zhimo, Assistant Youth Leader at ZTSBC, closed the program with a benediction, offering blessings for the success of the UDID initiative in empowering individuals with disabilities in the region.
The UDID drive in Zunheboto marked an important step in creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities, and it was hoped that the event would encourage more individuals to enroll and take full advantage of the opportunities available to them through the UDID system.
