India's panel recommends private doctors for disability certification

A parliamentary committee in India has recommended including private medical professionals to speed up disability certification. The committee noted significant delays in the process, citing a shortage of medical staff and infrastructure issues. The report highlighted that while the Unique Disability ID project has issued about 1.18 crore cards, many applications remain pending. The committee urged the Department of Disability Affairs to improve training for medical staff and enhance collaboration with state governments. Additionally, the committee pointed out underutilization of funds in disability programs, with only 76.48% of the budget spent in 2024-25. It called for better engagement with state governments and NGOs to streamline processes and improve fund distribution.