Bhubaneswar, Aug. 26: The Centre will conduct a nationwide survey for the physically challenged persons from the next month. It would be over by March next year.

Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot, who was on a two-day visit to the state, today said: “The enumerated persons will be issued universal identity cards, which will help them get free treatment benefits across the country.”

The minister said the universal identity cards would enable the disabled persons to avail themselves of the benefits in other states. There were complaints that the disabled persons having the regional identity card or certificate issued by the state government were being denied medical facilities and other benefits in other states.

He said that even those having less than 40 per cent disability would be issued the card. But, they would not be eligible for the facilities being provided to those having more than 40 per cent disability.

Gehlot said the necessity to undertake a national survey of the disabled was felt as several of them were found not covered under 2011 census.

The minister announced that his ministry would open regional centres of National Institute of Visually Handicapped, National Institute of Mentally Handicapped and National Institute of Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disability in the state.

He said the state government was asked to provide at least 20 acres to each of the institute, where 100 to 200-bed hospitals would come up.

Yesterday, the state government urged the Centre to take steps to set up regional centres of the three national institutes meant for visually challenged, multiple disable and mentally handicapped persons in Odisha.

State minister for disability welfare Pranab Pakash Das handed over a memorandum addressed to Gehlot.

“We have requested the Centre to set up regional centres of National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities, Chennai, National Institute for Mentally Retarded, Secunderabad and National Institute of Visually Handicapped in Odisha,” said Das.

He said the state government had identified land on Bhubaneswar outskirts for the proposed regional centre of the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities and at Olatpur for the two other institutes.

The Union minister today also announced that motorised tricycles costing about Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 would be provided to the disabled. While the Centre will provide a subsidy of Rs 30,000, the rest amount can be available from the MPLAD or MLALAD fund, he said.