Friends I have always said that if we want change we will have to work for it. Some of us work harder some of us only need to sign a petition. It saddens me to see the numbers. Very few from Access India have signed. Harish can speak of 3000 members but probably only 300-500 have signed. Even this is optimistic. The others who have added their voice are friends who do feel they should support us.So we often crib that all strategies should be of the blind and by the blind but what actually we have to rely on "for the Blind". So much is happening on Accessible Indian currency issue and so much has to be done. It is not going to be easy to get a government and Reserve Bank of India to withdraw currency or even promise not to circulate more of this inaccessible currency
We are working on many fronts. Aditi has filed a RTI,Payal has been writing articles, Vishal has been drafting representations,the others are also very busy trying to work on a multipronged strategy guided by seniors like Harish and Mahendra If this campaign does not go viral soon in social and regular media then we are not going to make the Authorities relent. Shyam Sainekarji speaks about Parliament and we must do so. Folks there are lots of things we have to do apart from the media campaign. We have to go to Court, to Parliament and to the Executive. A successful media campaign would have helped us launch the next part. Please do your bit - 1. sign the change.org petition yourself 2. Tweet it put it up on your face book page, whatsapp it to your other groups 3. Ask your NGOs to send representations. Get a copy from Vishal. Send BGFI a copy of the representation that your NGO has sent. 4. Find your parliamentarian, MLA and other important persons inyour area and tweet it to them or send them a letter. Whatever works for you. 5. Speak with your local media-newspapers, radio or tv. 6.Come to Bombay High court when the matter is listed. You will be kept informed about the date and time. As I sign off there are 5707 signatories to the change.org petition. Hopefully we will see increasing numbers by the end of the day. Please lets all adopt this as our campaign . Only if we all work together will change happen. Kanchan -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Harish Kotian Sent: 29 October 2017 22:41 To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning the disabled. Subject: Re: [AI] What’s happening on the Accessible Indian Currency Campaign? All Yes Sham, I agree with you entirely. In fact, I want to do some plain talking today. We are about 3,000 members who are educated and having access to computers and internet. For an important issue like this, surely, we can get at least 10 persons to sign the petition. However, where are we today? not even 5,000 whee as we should have crossed 30,000 at the minimum. So, what can we infer, that a large number of us have not done our bit for a cause which is so very important to us directly. So easily we blame the society, government and all others. But when it comes to do a little bit which is not more than a 5 minute work, we can't get to do it. We expect the NGO's and others to attend to all our problem. In the initial phase of the campaign, we had not included social media and we had our concern about individual effort on this cause. It was a suggestion from the list to use Change.org and social media. We trusted that everyone would work for it as for individual the task involved was so very trivial. Please turn back and see the efforts individuals and organization had to work hard to bring changes at various level that we are enjoying today. This campaign is not restricted to NGO's but is counting each one of us. Until and unless, we come up with convincing numbers, the enormity of the problem would also be gauged on the numbers by authorities as well. It would only speak that the problem is not grave and some jokers are trying to take mil age to steal limelight. In fact I have no hesitation to call the organizers of the campaign to give it up if the community is content with the state of affairs on the accessible currency front. Speak up and I am sure, the organizers would listen to you as in the past wether this campaign should continue? I would of course thank each and everyone who have worked on this campaign including those who signed the petition. I must say, I am concerned and unhappy on what could be done and what has been done in reality. Harish. On 29-10-2017 15:22, Shyam M. Sayanekar wrote: > Hello, we must keep this agitation alive, otherwise, gradually, it > will fed away. I wonder what the organizations like NAB, BPA, and > Blind Federation are doing in this respect. Soon the Winter Session of > the Parliament will begin, and we should raise this issue in both the > houses of the Parliament. We should also voice this issue in the press > and electronic news media. Thanking you, yours Professor Shyam M. > Sayanekar > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vineet Kumar" <[email protected]> > To: "AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerning the disabled." <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2017 11:21 AM > Subject: Re: [AI] What’s happening on the Accessible Indian Currency > Campaign? > > >> Its a good cause to support >> We should stand united because in the long run-Both physical and >> Digital will become inaccessible >> Frankly i see this happening if we dont standup for our own cause. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 29-Oct-2017, at 10:19 AM, Blind Graduates' Forum of India (BGFI) >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> Here are the responses / updates to a few of the reactions and queries >>> that we have received regarding Accessible Indian Currency. Feel free >>> to add to the queries as well as the responses. >>> >>> 1. I wonder if the notes are such a big issue. >>> You will not have this doubt if you have felt the new 50 and 200 rupee >>> notes, Can you independently identify 1 and 2 rupee coins? We are >>> heading towards a similar situation with increasing circulation of the >>> new inaccessible notes. >>> >>> 2. I still can identify most notes. >>> Think if you will be able to identify in future. RBI had plans to have >>> all notes of same width. Also drastically reduce the length from 10mm >>> to 4mm. Add to it the confusion due to coexistence of old and new >>> notes. You cannot do much once they are circulated in large numbers. >>> Can you? >>> >>> 3. Is it cost effective to propose withdrawal of notes that are >>> already in circulation? >>> We are not proposing to withdraw 500 and 2000-rupee notes, as they are >>> already too many in circulation. We are proposing to withdraw the new >>> 50 and 200 notes that are still few in circulation; the situation with >>> these notes can still be controlled. We need to hold authorities >>> accountable for the promise made to the committee comprising blind >>> representatives by RBI that they will not reduce the size difference. >>> Else, authorities will continue to take us for granted. >>> >>> 4. We do have two or three websites and apps meant for making >>> transactions that are reasonably accessible. >>> That’s less than 5% of the total options. We have often experienced >>> websites and apps that were accessible suddenly become inaccessible >>> with the introduction of new technology or upgrades. So how much can >>> we really trust that the existing options will remain accessible >>> forever? None of the Point of Sale machines and kiosks are accessible >>> today. Having more accessible options will reduce our risk and it’s >>> our right by law. >>> >>> 5. So many issues needs to be resolved. Somebody should take it up. >>> We do sometimes complain and crib amongst ourselves, but expect >>> somebody else to find a solution. We can resolve lot many issues with >>> much lesser time if all of us raise and act together with a unified >>> voice and in front of right people at the right time. Do you think you >>> should also contribute now? >>> >>> 6. How many NGOs have supported this cause? >>> We have reached out to over 40 NGOs. About 5 of them have informed us >>> so far that they have sent the letters to the authorities and few more >>> are in process. Please drop us a line if you are associated with any >>> NGO and we will share the letters and relevant details, It takes just >>> a few minutes to send the letters. >>> >>> 7. I believe in the issue and have also contributed. What’s the >>> status? >>> A. We have had one meeting with RBI on notes. Hoping for another >>> meeting on digital currency in a few days. Post the start of our >>> campaign, RBI Governor had made an announcement to come up with >>> measures for senior citizens and PWD by end of October, Let’s see if >>> they adhere to the time and more importantly if they include >>> accessible currency. Still waiting for the response from Finance >>> Ministry. >>> B. We have around 4600 signatories on change.org petition, still far >>> away from the targeted 20,000. >>> >>> 8. How can I contribute? >>> a. Sign the petition on the below link. If you have already done, >>> get >>> your family and friends to do it. >>> http://tinyurl.com/AICpetition >>> B. Like the Accessible Indian Currency Facebook page to keep yourself >>> updated. Keep sharing the articles and updates that are posted over >>> there. >>> http://tinyurl.com/facebookAIC >>> C. Reach out to the local MP, MLA and media and ask them to >>> highlight the issue. >>> D. On an immediate basis, copy the below message and post it on your >>> Facebook wall and share on WhatsApp groups you are a part of. If you >>> have done it earlier, let’s do it again with the below new message. >>> Repetition and reinforcement is critical for any campaign. >>> >>> The new Indian currency is making the lives of blind citizens >>> difficult. We are trying hard to make Indian currency accessible for >>> the blind and have sent a detail proposal to RBI Governor, Finance >>> Minister and Prime Minister. Please support in strengthening our voice >>> by signing this petition and sharing it on your Facebook wall. >>> http://tinyurl.com/aicpetition >>> >>> >>> Hoping for your continued contribution. >>> Regards, >>> Blind Graduates Forum of India. >>> Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/BGFIFacebook >>> >>> Website: www.bgfi.in >>> >>> The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in >>> >>> You should now post to the id: [email protected] >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>> [email protected] >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >>> changes, please visit the list home page at >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> >>> Disclaimer: >>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the >>> thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates >>> itself to its veracity; >>> >>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>> mails sent through this mailing list.. >> >> The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in >> >> You should now post to the id: [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >> of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in > > You should now post to the id: [email protected] > > > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking > of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its > veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails sent through this mailing list.. The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in You should now post to the id: [email protected] Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in You should now post to the id: [email protected] Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
