Delays for certificates add insult to handicap injury : Nagpur

Seventeen-year-old Mrunal Balkote has club feet deformity since birth. Despite all efforts and treatment, 40% disability remains. He has acquired a 'temporary disability certificate' as his parents are still trying to treat the deformity. As he sought admission in a college this year, he had been given a proforma to verify his disability status.

This form needed signatures of either the civil surgeon, dean of either Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) or Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), or director of All India Institute of Physical Handicap, Mumbai. At IGGMCH, he was told to go to GMCH as those from the city should go there. At GMCH, he was told the work of disability certificates could only be done on Wednesday and that he would be given a date of appointment for the process as there were many people waiting.

"By Wednesday, the date of submission of the form had elapsed. We already had a disability certificate. When other documents like caste and domicile certificates are accepted by the colleges, why can't they accept the disability certificate," asked Mrunal's father Suresh Balkote.

Several people like the Balkotes are having a tough time as admission to colleges and job offers for graduates take precedence. The high number of such people has caught the authorities off guard, too. For over three decades, this certification was done by the district civil surgeon at IGGMCH. However a GR issued last year changed the signatory authority for certificate from civil surgeon to the dean of the medical colleges, GMCH for the urban and IGGMCH for the rural areas.

Even those who only wish for renewal of their disability certificate face many problems. "Though it does not take much time, doctors believe it to be a tedious and time-consuming procedure. In GMCH since the centre is open only for one day in a week, when one applies for any procedure they are given a date, sometimes of two or three months later," said Amit Patel, a volunteer at the handicap facility centre which helps the physically challenged with information regarding various government schemes.

Authorities at GMCH say since the service has only just begun at the hospital, they are still experimenting with the best possible way to do it. "We did not realize the number of people coming for the certificate will be so high. Now that we know, we would soon be starting the service for two days in a week. As per the state government's order, we are also in the process of making the service available online," informed PRO of the hospital Dr Murari Singh.

Confusion worst confounded

For decades, the handicap certification was being done at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital and signed by the civil surgeon whose office was also in the hospital premises. This signature was received after physical examination by the doctors of IGGMCH.

Last February, the directorate of medical education and research and directorate of health services informed the hospital authorities that the signatory would be the dean of the medical college. For over four months, the service was discontinued as confusion prevailed.

IGGMCH, which is being burdened by several public responsibilities and gravely understaffed, wished to share the responsibility with Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) which has relatively more manpower and infrastructure. Finally, the responsibilities were divided between the two, GMCH getting the responsibility to cater to urban population and IGGMCH to the rural.

In October, the service was started at GMCH but many people still go to IGGMCH asking for the certificate or its renewal and have to be redirected. With the huge premises of GMCH and the departments scattered all across, the handicapped people are finding it difficult and inconvenient to roam through the hospital for certificates.

Source : TOI , 5th July 2013