Newer disability certification guidelines for persons with visual disabilities in India: A review

Visual disability leads to functional impairment and limits an individual's activities of daily living, causing emotional, social, and economic hardship. The visual disability certificate issued by the Government of India is an important document through which social security services for persons with disability (PwDs) can be provided seamlessly. It ensures equal opportunities for PwDs and their full participation in nation building. New guidelines were formulated via "The Gazette of India," dated January 4, 2018 for disability certification. The purpose of the current review is to highlight the modifications in the 2018 and 2024 guidelines and compare the newer rules with those promulgated in 2001. The important changes in disability certification guidelines are increase in the number of disabilities from 7 to 21, increase in the visual disability categories from 6 to 10 and changes in the definition of blindness and low vision. The criteria for benchmark disability has been kept the same as 40%. The various benefits of having disability certificates are reservation of seats in government jobs for PwDs, right to free education for those aged 6-18 years, upper age relaxation of 5 years for admission in school and 10 years for government jobs, scholarships under various schemes, assistive devices under various schemes, free travel on buses, 50% concessions on air fare for blind, 75% concession for blind and their escort in Indian railways, income tax concessions, bank loans at 1% interest and so on. There is an urgent need to educate PwDs about these multiple social security benefits that they can avail based on a certificate of benchmark disability.