Workshop on simplification of forms while availing excise rebate

After a lengthy advocacy with Dept of Heavy Industries (DHI), Centre quashed manufacturer's certificate required to avail excise duty concession on the purchase of a new car by a person with disability. This was largely because of my face off with high-headed and insensitive Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL). Still, few problems remained in the medical certificate.

National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), an autonomous institute under DoPT, along with DHI organised a technical workshop on 'Citizen Centric Governance: Simplification of Forms' today at India International Centre where I was invited too along with stakeholders from auto industries and people who 'faced the music' while availing such concession. Hats off to DHI for revising the 16-question proforma to a single page. Feedback was sough on this revised format.

I suggested removal of medical examination certificate in entirety and replace it with either Disability Certificate OR MSJE's Unique Disability ID (UDID). Director General of NCGG Dr Gyanendra Badgaiyan was very receptive. Few participant raised the issue of multiple format by hospitals to which I highlighted 'Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules 2009’. Based on stakeholder response from disability sector, RTO certificate was preferred over manufacturer. The affidavit wont be needed as the same info can be used in the online form just above signature. UDID will also make copy of Aadhar card irrelevant.

DG NCGG was especially irked by 'invalid carriage' and I proposed to use the term 'Adapted/Altered Vehicle driven by a person with disability'. He said he will personally take up the issues with Secretaries. Knowing his past contribution in bureaucracy, I am hopeful. Revision of forms will help those PwD also who can use manual transmission. Unlike the PMR deptt of Safdarjug Hospital, now PwDs wont be asked to get mental certificate on 'state of mental health' (Yes, they have actually mentioned this in writing)

Hats off to DHI and Director Praveen Aggarwal and Under Secy Ajai Gaur for hearing me patiently and putting things into action over the past one year. This is not their job still they are doing it. Sadly, I dont have such nice words for nodal Ministry (MSJE or Deptt of Empowerment of PwD)