Maharashtra Govt Orders Re-verification of Disabled Employees

In Maharashtra, a new government resolution (GR) mandates a comprehensive re-verification of disability certificates for all government and semi-government employees. This action comes in response to a rise in fraudulent disability claims, including high-profile cases. The directive requires departments to report on employee disability status and their Unique Disability ID (UDID) within three months, aiming to identify and eliminate bogus claims.

However, this widespread verification has caused unease among the disabled employee community. Many feel the initiative treats the entire group with unwarranted suspicion. Departments are directing employees to multi-specialist medical boards, mirroring the recruitment process. This has led to concerns about invasive tests and the inconvenience of visiting multiple hospitals, some lacking accessible infrastructure.

While acknowledging the need to address fraudulent certificates and transition to the UDID system, officials stated that appointing authorities retain the right to re-verify even valid UDIDs if doubts arise. Some employees suggest a more targeted approach, focusing verification on genuinely suspicious cases rather than a blanket re-examination.