State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 25 Sep 2025

District Disability Rehabilitation Centre

Uttarakhand launched its first modern, multi-purpose District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) at Gandhi Shatabdi Hospital, Dehradun, to provide comprehensive services for persons with disabilities under one roof.

Key Points

• Services Offered: The DDRC provides disability certificates, physiotherapy, counselling, assistive devices, and access to government welfare schemes.
• Beneficiary Support: Individuals can access services such as Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities, Aadhaar registration, psychological counselling, prosthetic equipment, medical treatment, and employment training.
  • Approximately 20% of Uttarakhand’s population is affected by some form of disability.
• Administration: The centre functions under a nodal agency supervised by the Social Welfare Department, with 14 staff positions, a dedicated transport vehicle, and a helpline.
• Holistic Rehabilitation: Services are provided after medical, social, educational, and psychological evaluation, ensuring comprehensive rehabilitation.
  • The centre emphasizes vocational training, rehabilitation, and self-employment schemes to promote self-reliance among beneficiaries.
• Multi-Disciplinary Team: Staff includes physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists, and counsellors to provide holistic care.

Current Status of PwDs in India

• According to Census 2011, India has 2.68 crore persons with disabilities (PwDs), accounting for 2.21% of the total population. 
  • Disability prevalence is higher among males (2.4%) than females (1.9%) and is also greater in rural areas compared to urban regions. 
• Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, 21 types of disabilities are recognized, including Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Speech & Language Disability, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, and Dwarfism.