Hai Shiv: Don't know if you have mentioned the source of this article; but I am unable to find it. Kindly let me know the source.
Subramani -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Shiv Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 12:27 PM To: Pamnani; [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] depository *********************** No virus was detected in the attachment no filename Your mail has been scanned by InterScan. ***********-*********** Hi Kanchan, I am pasting below an article I came across on the net, written by Atul Pant, I think he is on this group or was at one point. He has mentioned how banks in the UK treat blind people. Mahendra can tell us about his experience in Austria. Shiv A Case for Universally Accessible Banking Services - Part-1 Submitted by atulpant on Mon, 2006-06-05 03:56. Is a blind person same as an illiterate person? Banking guidelines in India seem to suggest this. In its Model Deposit Guidelines, the Indian Bank's Association (IBA), the representative body of banks in India, which is instrumental in influencing and guiding banks' policies, clubs 'illiterate and blind people' together and suggests to its member banks, "The Bank may at its discretion open deposit accounts other than Current Accounts of illiterate person. The account of such person may be opened provided he/she calls on the Bank personally along with a witness who is known to both the depositor and the Bank. Normally, no cheque book facility is provided for such Savings Bank Account. At the time of withdrawal/ repayment of deposit amount and/or interest, the account holder should affix his / her thumb impression or mark in the presence of the authorized officer who should verify the identity of the person. The Bank will explain the need for proper care and safe keeping of the passbook etc. given to the account holder. The Bank official shall explain the terms and conditions governing the account to the illiterate / blind person." As a result, in India today, if you are a blind or low vision person, chances are that most banks will not open your independent bank account, they will either insist that you open a joint bank account with a sighted person or open a bank account with no cheque book facility or both. Even these policies are not consistent. A branch manager of the same bank in a big city could follow a policy very different from that followed by his counterpart in a smaller city. Example, collection of cheques at par and free remittance facilities by way of issuing D.D./M.T./T.T. may be given in one branch but not in another. These inconsistencies are because either the policy is not defined or managers are ignorant. Inspite of the fact that IBA states its first objective as, "To promote and develop in India sound and progressive banking principles, practices and conventions and to contribute to the developments of creative banking" and, "To develop and implement new ideas and innovations in banking services, operations and procedures" Quite anachronistically it has not followed its policy of 'sound and progressive' principles and innovations and creativity in banking, when it comes to addressing the needs of visually disabled people. A blind Ph.D. holder is still an illiterate in the eyes of most banks. Developments in Universally Accessible Banking In most of the western world banking and financial services are universally accessible. Since the British law heavily influences most of India's policies and regulations, in this section I have focused on developments in banking in U.K. for addressing the special needs of visually disabled users. In U.K., the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995, which was further amended in 2004, lays down the policies for providing services to visually disabled audience for all service providers, including banks. The key principle of DDA is 'reasonable accommodation' and requires all service providers, including banks, to provide as equal a service as reasonably possible to people with disabilities, as the service provider would provide to other users. In U.K. today, visually disabled people opening independent bank accounts and signing cheques is taken for granted and the focus is now on making branches and online banking more accessible, providing bank statements in Braille, large print and audio tape format and taking other measures that meet the special needs of this audience. If the main issue for banks in India is risk of fraud, because of possible inconsistencies in signatures of visually disabled people, then accepting 'signature stamps' instead of personally signed cheques could be a way out. In U.K. banks accept signature stamps from visually disabled users. More interestingly, in Japan almost everyone has such signature stamps, not just visually disabled people. Its called Inkan or Hanko and they are of two types, one called 'jitsu-in', a signature stamp duly registered with the local municipal office which is used for signing legal documents and in contracts like buying, selling or renting real-estate. The other is 'mitome-in', which is not registered and is used for things like acknowledging receipt of registered mail or courier. In fact, non-registered 'mitome-in' is used for opening bank accounts and even most sighted people use a stamp instead of personal signatures to operate their bank account. The onus of losing the signature stamp or its possible misuse lies with the user and not with the bank. This is much like a sighted user being responsible for his or her password for phone or online banking. I have seen many people storing their ATM PIN in their mobile phones and if they lose their mobile phones they are as equally at risk of misuse and fraud, as a person who may lose a bank signature stamp. In U.K. banks also issue a letter stating that they will accept the signature-stamp of visually disabled users. The stamp, along with the authorization letter from the bank, can be used in shops and other establishments. The Banker's Code established by the British Banker's Association suggests other measures to assist people with visual and disabilities. Guided by the Code, most banks in U.K. provide the following additional services besides opening their independent bank account: List of 4 items . Cheque / credit book templates to help write cheques, credit slips and signatures . Credit / debit card templates to assist in signing . A bank note gauge to help identify different value notes . Credit slips and cheque book reminder slips in cheque books with a hole punched in the stub to differentiate them from cheques list end In future, as technology-based identification becomes less costly and more ubiquitous, like use of smart cards or biometric solutions, written signatures will be required less frequently. We are already seeing this in the increased use of chip & pin based credit and debit cards. This will make the banking and financial services more accessible and universal. Technology-based identification will also give 'identity theft' a whole new meaning. However, electronic identity theft will be as plausible for a sighted person as for a visually disabled person, hence denying independent ownership and operation of a bank account to a visually disabled person is meaningless. He or she does not have any specific disadvantage on account of the visual impairment when it comes to electronic identity theft. Awareness is the Way Forward in India The key issue in India, for visually disabled users, is getting through the first hurdle - opening and operating a bank account independently. If this is made possible through a clear policy, then emerging technology will by default make banking services more and more inclusive. Take the case of phone banking. If the entire transaction, including authentication, is voice driven then there is no special challenge a blind or low vision user faces. Or online banking, where if Universal Web Accessibility Guidelines, as laid down by World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C/WAI) are adhered to, a blind or low vision user using an assistive device like screen-reader or screen-magnifier can easily avail of banking services independently. I think there is a lack of awareness in higher echelons of banking industry in India and it is believed a visually disabled person cannot use a computer. This, when people like Mr. Ramkrishna, General Manager, IDBI and Mr. Ashwini Agarwal, who works with Punjab National Bank and many other visually disabled people are employed in the financial sector and use computers extensively in their work. What is needed is an awareness campaign to sensitize the banking industry about the 'abilities' of visually disabled people. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pamnani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 12:40 PM Subject: [AI] depository > Friends > Sekar has not put the correct subject therefore their seems to be no > response to his e-mail. However the subject is of grave importance to most > of us therefore needs replies privately or publicly as soon as possible. > Sekar has filed a case in the Madras High Court against NSDL because of > their circular regarding opening of demat accounts by the visually > impaired. > The requirements are ridiculous and demeaning. > I am well aware that most of AccessIndia members are trading in shares. > 1. You have a demat account in your name? > 2. Do you have a account in your name alone? > 3. With which depository and with which DP? > 4. Were there any restrictions imposed on you when you started your > account? > 5. How do you safeguard your interests? > 6. What about the problem of signature not tallying? > All help will be appreciated from members in India and abroad > Kanchan Pamnani > Advocate & Solicitor > 9, Suleman Chambers, > Battery Street, Colaba, > Mumbai - 400 039. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "sekarr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 12:23 PM > Subject: [AI] suggestion required > > >> Hai friends, I have applied for demat account >> (visually impaired). The NSDL. who is governing the >> issue (government organization) denied the opportunity >> by saying that I can open a demat account only with 2 >> companions, one of whom must accompany with me at the >> time of transaction. I found it is against >> my privacy and right of profession and business. I >> filed a writ before the Madras High Court against the >> institution. In this connection I require your >> valid points and legal position in support of my case. >> Foreign friends may kindly enlighten me about the >> practice law and rules in their countries. Thanks >> >> T.SEKAR, mobile: 0919444368382 >> >> >> >> ________________________________________________________________________ ____________ >> Bored stiff? Loosen up... >> Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! 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