Giridih, July 12: Giridih has lined up double delight for its special people. It will soon become the first district of the state to offer special identity cards and a welfare guidebook to the disabled that will give them easy access to schemes designed for them across the country.

With guidance from disability commissioner Satish Chandra, deputy commissioner Vandana Dadel and district welfare officer Bandhu Fernandez have started preparing the ID cards that will be distributed among 7,573 beneficiaries enrolled under the state-sponsored Swami Vivekanand Disability Swavlamban Programme (SVDSP) this month. The welfare department will also provide them with diaries that will have all necessary information on medical facilities, disability gear and programmes being run for the disabled nationwide.

“Six months ago, the state disability commissioner was here to oversee a programme for special people and he came up with the proposal to make special ID cards for people listed under SVDSP,” Fernandez said. “Each card being prepared will show the nature and percentage of disability, besides the name and address of the holder,” he added.

The welfare department is likely to start distributing the cards from the third week of this month. In the first phase, 4,500 people will get their ID and diaries. “Ours will be the first district to provide national identity cards to the disabled. Elsewhere, all they get is a certificate from the health department that entitles them to railway concessions,” said the welfare officer.

Deputy commissioner Dadel confirmed the initiative and said that the remaining 3,073 beneficiaries would also receive the ID cards and diaries soon.

Besides railway and also air concessions, the special ID will entitle the disabled to claim admission and jobs under the three per cent reserved quota, she added.

The special drive has come as a huge relief for many like Aftab Alam.

“So far, I did not care to enroll myself with the social welfare department because it had very little to offer. But now I will,” said the man.