In a significant move aimed at curbing fraud, the Maharashtra government has ordered a fresh round of disability verification for all its employees and those in semi-government roles who secured jobs, promotions, or concessions through disability-based reservations. This directive comes in the wake of a surge in complaints about bogus disability certificates, including high-profile cases that have drawn public scrutiny.
Government Mandate and Employee Discomfort
The state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) in October, mandating that every department must verify the disability status and the authenticity of the disability certificate or Unique Disability ID (UDID) of all such employees. Departments have been given a strict deadline of three months to submit their verification reports.
However, this sweeping directive has left many long-serving and genuinely disabled employees feeling uneasy and unfairly targeted. They argue that the move casts an unwarranted shadow of suspicion over the entire community of persons with disabilities (PwD). While the GR does not specify the exact method for verification, various departments, including those under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have begun issuing letters requiring employees to appear before multi-specialist medical boards—the same panels used during initial recruitment.
Harassment and Logistical Nightmares for Genuine Cases
The practical challenges of the re-verification process are a major concern for employees. A doctor from a BMC-run medical college, who has over 50% disability and a valid UDID card, expressed his frustration after receiving a re-verification letter. His colleague with nearly 70% disability was also summoned.
"A person with a certain disability will have to face severe scrutiny and invasive tests by a doctor who has nothing to do with their disability under the medical board all over again," he said. He highlighted the immense physical difficulty, pointing out that many hospitals lack disabled-friendly infrastructure, with non-functional lifts, forcing individuals to move from one hospital to another to see different specialists. This, he argues, transforms a well-intentioned audit into a form of harassment for genuine candidates.
Official Stance and Systemic Concerns
Defending the move, Tukaram Mundhe, secretary of the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) welfare department, stated that the primary goals are to root out bogus certificates and facilitate a complete transition to the UDID system. However, he clarified that even employees with a valid UDID can be asked to undergo re-verification if the appointing authorities have any doubts.
Critics within the system point to the blanket nature of the exercise. Another BMC employee suggested a more targeted approach: "BMC could have specified that only disabled individuals with suspected bogus certificates should be sent for review. Instead, any disabled employee on quota is being sent to different medical board doctors scattered across multiple hospitals." This lack of focus, they fear, wastes resources and penalizes the honest.
While some state government employees support the drive as a necessary step to punish those cheating the system, the balance between administrative vigilance and protecting the dignity of disabled employees remains a delicate issue. With the three-month clock ticking, the outcome of this large-scale verification will be closely watched.
