yes it is my own personal experience too. fighting with IDBI from a month and glad to know that it got opened today after a lot of persuasion and arguments. i was asked to differentiate between a blind person and a V.I. which is ironical.
On 3/20/11, prateek aggarwal <[email protected]> wrote: > Wonderful article, I’m pretty impressed by the report published. > Unfortunately, lack of awareness about the same in banking staff is > the biggest hurdle that we all face. > I reiterate my statement which I have once given in response of a > question on banking for blind persons, having awareness campaigns > regarding banking facilities is need of the hour. > Representatives of various NGOs are humbly requested to kindly include > it in their forthcoming projects. > If at all, there’s a way where I can contribute, I’ll be happy to do so. > > Regards, > Prateek agarwal. > Director, > Daedal technovations pvt. Ltd. > www.daedaltechnovations.com > we bring the change we wish to see! > > Website: > www.prateekagarwal.tk > | > www.prateekagarwal.webs.com > > > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: "Vikas Kapoor" <[email protected]> > To: "Access India" <[email protected]> > Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:08:47 +0530 > Subject: [AI] Banks disable the visually impaired > Banks disable the visually impaired > > BANGALORE: If you're visually challenged, you can certainly play the > piano, but you can't get money out of most ATM machines in hi-tech > Bangalore. > > It is surprising that though ATM facilities are widely available, the > visually challenged are unable to make use of them -- all because some > banks allegedly > refuse to provide ATM cards, while others do not even open accounts. > > Anil Kumar, 25, working as a manager and also doing a company > secretary course, is among those who have been denied an ATM card. He > had approached State > Bank of Mysore at JP Nagar and his application was allegedly rejected. > > Though RBI has directed banks to issue ATM cards to the visually > challenged, some city banks do not follow the guidelines. Kolkata and > Delhi have ATMs > specially designed for the blind, which Bangalore lacks. > > Anil is confident of using the ATM machine. "We require orientation to > use ATMs, for which some of my visually challenged friends help me. > But I should > first get an ATM card. I applied at SBM, close to my house in JP > Nagar, but could not get it. So also in Chamarajpet SBM branch. The > bank manager asked > me to give the RBI document which directs banks to issue ATM cards and > cheque books to the visually challenged," said Anil. > > Anil's brother, who is also visually challenged, has access to an ATM > through HDFC. "In Karnataka, no efforts have been made to design ATMs > for the visually > challenged. But people like my brother have got used to the existing > ATM machine. Those with touch-screen facility are a little difficult > to use," says > Anil. > > Canara Bank and ICICI do offer ATM cards, but only at a few branches, > claims Girish Vasanth, coordinator of Young Voices, a group of > visually challenged > educated persons. "The same cooperation is not found in all branches. > If we can be employed in IT companies and work on par with others, why > can't we have > ATM cards, cheque books and independent accounts?" Girish asks. > > THE RULE BOOK > > The Reserve Bank of India issued a circular dated June 4, 2008, > stating that all banks must render the same service to all clients, > without discrimination. > The circular declared that banks must provide the visually impaired > with every facility, including cheque book, third-party cheques, ATM, > net banking, > locker, retail loans, credit cards etc. > > SPECIAL ATMs FOR THEM > > Banks should have ATMs specially designed for the visually-challenged. > According to the 2001 census, there are 4 lakh visually challenged > persons in Karnataka, > of who 1 lakh are in Bangalore. Bank accounts are given to only > well-educated persons. But most of them discontinue education after > SSLC. ATMs must have > Braille embossing and we are ready to provide banks with the required > support. > > PK Paul | founder-trustee of indian disabled league foundation > > TALKING ATM > > ICICI Bank set up a `Talking ATM for the Visually Impaired', the first > of its kind in the country in Pune, for a test run in 2002. Such ATMs > have wheelchair > access, large display for users with partial vision, Braille-enabled > function keys and guide labels, card reader, receipt, cash dispenser, > depositor, bunch > cash presenter for ease in collecting cash, personalized headphone > jack with voice control features, voice-guided transactions and > integrated digital video > recorder for enhanced security. In August 2010, a talking ATM was > installed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. > > SBM VERSION > > In answer to the controversy, State Bank fo Mysore chief manager's > office had this to say... > > Q: How has your bank empowered visually challenged customers? Have you > provided them ATM cards and cheque books? > > A: Visually challenged persons are permitted to open savings bank > accounts with cheque book facility. > > Q: The RBI issued a circular stating that banks must render all > services to visually impaired clients. There are complaints that you > have denied them ATM > cards and cheque books... > > A: Locker facility is denied only for minors. > > Q: Why cannot SBM make its services disabled-friendly? What are the risks? > > A. Providing ATM and net banking facility is under process. > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Banks-disable-the-visually-impaired/articleshow/7745596.cms > > Vikas Kapoor, > MSN Id: > [email protected], > Yahoo&Skype Id: dl_vikas, > Mobile: (+91) 9891098137. > > 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 > > 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
