Misinformation on social media leaves disabled hassled
Hundreds of physically challenged people from across the district were at the receiving end at the civil hospital here on Monday — thanks to the misinformation on the social media.
Physically challenged people of all subdivisions in the district reached the Sangrur civil hospital to get the Unique Disability Identity (UDI) on the occasion of World Disability Day. The district administration had organised a camp for the disbursal of the UDI to the physically challenged from Sangrur subdivision, but due to misinformation, applicants from all the neighbouring subdivisions turned up, leading to chaos.
In the end, applicants from other subdivisions had to go back without getting the certificate.
Physically challenged of all age-groups waited in queues outside hospital to purchase the application form, priced at ₹50 each. The officials, however, refused to entertain most of the applicants.
Gurcharan Singh, an elderly person from Longowal town, said travelled 25km to get the disability certificate as the administrative officials had publicised that the special camp was for the residents of entire district.
Reeta Rani, a teacher from Dhuri subdivision, said she had brought several disabled children from her school to get their disability certificate, but despite assurances, the officials failed to provide them any.
She said the arrangements at the venue were also inadequate as some of the students fainted due to the overcrowding at the venue.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Avikesh Gupta said it happened due to the misinformation about the camp on the social media that Monday was the last day to get the UDI certificate. “Also, the camp was only for the Sangrur subdivision, not entire district,” he said.
“We issued 555 certificates to eligible beneficiaries on the spot. However, 785 applications were received,” he said.