Dear Friends, Extremely good work. I remember having participated in at least 2 meetings of this nature. Unfortunately, not much has yielded. Also, the problem of coins is equally challenging and is getting worse.
Actually, I feel that we must take up this issue with the minister of finance as at a certain level, RBI is also bound by executive orders. With best wishes, Ketan 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 > -- Ketan Kothari Phone: [r] 24223281, Cell: 9987550614 MSN ID: muktake...@hotmail.com Skype ID: Ketan3333 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.. 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