Bhubaneswar: To clear the huge backlog of applications seeking unique disability ID (UDID) cards in the state, steps have been taken to provide financial incentives for medical boards, train the representatives of these boards and prevent issuance of fake disability certificates.The UDID cards help persons with disability (PwD) to get benefits provided by the govt.The Centre recently reviewed the UDID application pendency and pointed out huge backlogs in certain districts. It instructed early clearance to facilitate the benefits under various schemes for the persons with disabilities.Further, the State Assembly Standing Committee also raised concern on the delay in verification process and increasing the frequency of medical board sittings, while expressing displeasure about the non-availability of specialists, which is a regular complaint, especially in grievance-hearing camps by public representatives.A meeting in this regard was conducted on March 9 under the chairmanship of the principal secretary of the social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities department, the minutes of which were released on Wednesday.In the meeting, it was decided that the govt will provide financial support of Rs 4,000 per sitting to the medical boards for districts having high pendency, and Rs 3,000 per sitting for districts having moderate pendency for a period of six months.Health and family welfare department will make the categorisation of districts into high and moderate pendency. An amount of Rs 10 lakh may be provided in advance to the department for this purpose, said the official sources.A virtual training programme for the medical boards on assessment of disabilities will be conducted regularly, especially before their sittings. The Govt of India guidelines on assessment will be strictly followed for proper certification and consequent disbursement of benefits to deserving PwDs, said the official sources.To check and prevent the generation of fake disability certificates, as well as to avoid harassment of eligible PwDs, a district-wise analysis of data on PwDs with 75-79% disability will be extracted from the portal, and the percentage difference in reassessment cases may also be analysed, said the official sources.