Thank you team for that update as well as for meeting with RBI. I think we should continue sending representations once a month until they address the issue. We should show them how serious we are in our ask.
Regards, Srinivasu Chakravarthula - Twitter: http://twitter.com/CSrinivasu/ Website: http://www.srinivasu.org | http://serveominclusion.com Let's create an inclusive web! Lead Accessibility Consultant, Informatica On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 9:13 PM, Shireen Irani via Ai < ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in> wrote: > That's great. at least a dialog has been initiated. And there is no > disregard for our issues. the only things in the way are practical > barriers in the implementation. I also feel that our concerns may not > be addressed now, but the next time that new notes are issued. since > they've already spent krores of rupees on these new notes it is not > practical to expect them to get those out of circulation. so what is > needed now is a more long-term, on-going engagement with them, so that > we remain on their mind whenever they print new currency. not sure how > that can happen, but at least the people employed within RBI could > remain on top of things and perhaps keep engaging with them in some > way to ensure that they are consulted before the next round. > > Shireen. > > On 9/20/17, Blind Graduates' Forum of India (BGFI) via Ai > <ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in> wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > Here is a brief update on our meeting with RBI authorities. > > We had Kanchan Pamnani, Suhas Karnik, Amar Jain and myself Vishal > > Kumar Jain attending the meeting. First of all thanks a lot for all > > those who have supported with a lot of ground work and those who wrote > > to the authorities which enabled us have this meeting in the first > > place. > > > > We discussed on each of the points highlighted in the representation. > > The RBI team was relatively new to the subject and unfortunately they > > were not updated with earlier conversations on it. Overall it was a > > much needed discussion and the team was receptive to listen to our > > suggestions. However the team avoided making any commitments. Below > > are the key highlights: > > 1. The longest conversation was on size variation which remains a > > major issue. If RBI goes ahead with their plan, the size variation of > > notes will come down from 10mm to around 4mm with the introduction of > > new Rs. 100, Rs. 20 and Rs. 10 notes. More over the width of all the > > notes is expected to be the same (66mm). This will make it close to > > impossible for us to identify the notes. While the team understood our > > concerns, they expressed their own challenge of maintaining variation > > due to reduction in overall size of the notes. > > 2. The team was taken aback to understand that the bleed line and > > tactile markings are not perceivable. They accepted the fact and > > confirmed to prioritize on finding a solution to make it perceivable. > > They also expressed technical challenges in making it happen. > > 3. Inputs on low vision friendly features was welcomed and they plan > > to continue with contrast color, color variation, font size, etc. > > 4. Fake notes issue was acknowledge and they thought of focusing on > > perceptible tactile markings and keeping the texture of notes > > different from normal paper. > > 5. The team confirmed to pass on inputs related to issues other than > > currency notes to relevant departments and discussion on accessible > > websites and apps was in brief. > > 6. Most importantly we discovered that RBI had interactions with NGOs > > and teams like us in the past. However the inputs and suggestions have > > not been valued given the fact they have gone ahead with lower size > > variation and unperceivable tactile markings in the new notes. > > > > So on the whole the meeting was productive in sensitizing the team on > > our needs. At the same time it doesn’t assure of our issues getting > > sufficiently addressed any time soon. Unless we intensify our voice > > and raise the issue on all possible forums, we will end up having > > notes with very little size variation making it highly inaccessible. > > We will continue our effort on this. However we would need more active > > involvement from each of you and your network to really get them to > > act on our suggestions. > > > > Thanks and regards, > > Team BGFI. > > > > > > > > On 9/18/17, Blind Graduates' Forum of India (BGFI) > > <contact.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Dear all, > >> > >> Please find below the representation that we intend to share and > >> discuss with RBI during our meeting in person. Have incorporate > >> recommendations considering short term and long term needs of persons > >> with visual impairment. The meeting is tomorrow, so please share your > >> feedback if any by today night. > >> > >> --- > >> > >> To > >> Governor > >> Reserve Bank of India > >> Mumbai. > >> Subject: Representation to make Indian Currency notes easily > >> identifiable for the blind citizens > >> > >> Respected sir, > >> Blind Graduates Forum of India brings to your kind notice the issue of > >> difficult-to-use Indian currency notes. We, the blind citizens face > >> some genuine inconveniences in identifying various currency notes in > >> circulation including the newly introduced ones. This has made daily > >> living very difficult and has led to direct negative impact on > >> livelihood for blind individuals across the country. > >> > >> Kindly consider the following recommendations to make Indian Currency > >> accessible for the blind: > >> 1. Define Indian Currency Accessibility Guidelines to be mandatorily > >> factored in every new release of notes and coins. > >> 2. Mandate adoption of available accessibility guidelines for mobile > >> apps and websites meant for making financial transactions. Communicate > >> the guidelines extensively to all the stakeholders. > >> 3. Use both length and width of the notes to differentiate between > >> each of the notes. The length of the new Rs. 2000, Rs. 500, Rs. 200 > >> and Rs. 50 is the same. > >> 4. Categorize notes into two sets in terms of sizes, one for lower > >> denominations and the other for higher denominations. Differentiate > >> each set with a minimum of 10mm in length. > >> 5. Maintain variation of at least 10mm in width between every note, > >> for both lower and higher denominations. For instance the variation in > >> length between Rs. 200 and Rs. 500 is just 4mm which is extremely > >> difficult to differentiate. > >> 6. Incorporate easily perceptible tactile marking, embossed letters > >> and / or bleed lines. These features should not fade away with use and > >> should be very easy to feel. The bleed lines newly introduced in the > >> new Rs. 2000 and Rs. 500 notes are absolutely not perceivable and are > >> of no help. > >> 7. Phase out all the new notes including Rs. 50, Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and > >> Rs. 2000 notes on priority as its size conflict with the old Rs. 10 > >> and Rs. 20. This will be easier as the number of new notes under > >> circulation are relatively lower. > >> 8. Use different shapes or curved edges for both notes and coins to > >> differentiate. > >> 9. Use very distinct colors for people with low vision to identify. > >> The new notes released recently have been well differentiated by > >> colors. We appreciate and welcome the change incorporated. > >> 10. Adopt contrast colors of the note and of the figures highlighting > >> the denomination. > >> 11. Use large font size for the figures highlighting the denominations. > >> 12. The texture of the notes should be different from normal paper. > >> Maintain the variation in texture in case any other material like > >> plastic is used in future. > >> 13. Involve sufficient number of representative sample of blind > >> individuals for testing of prototype and final version of notes before > >> every release. > >> 14. Review Indian Currency Accessibility guidelines every five years > >> and factor changes in material, technology, user feedback, market > >> trends and best practices globally. > >> > > 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.. > > > > > > > > To check if the post reached the list or to search for old posting, > reach: > > https://www.mail-archive.com/ai@accessindia. > inclusivehabitat.in/maillist.html > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > Ai mailing list > > Ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in > > http://accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/mailman/listinfo/ai > > > 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.. > > > > To check if the post reached the list or to search for old posting, reach: > https://www.mail-archive.com/ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/maillist. > html > _______________________________________________ > > > Ai mailing list > Ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in > http://accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/mailman/listinfo/ai >
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.. To check if the post reached the list or to search for old posting, reach: https://www.mail-archive.com/ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/maillist.html _______________________________________________ Ai mailing list Ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in http://accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/mailman/listinfo/ai
