Time to redesign these notes

The visually impaired have a tough time identifying notes

6 May 2019

PT Jyothi Datta, 
Deputy Editor 
Hindu Business Line 

If you’ve ever squinted in the dark trying to figure out a Rs. 50 note from a Rs. 10, it would give you a fleeting insight into the difficulties faced by the visually-challenged and elderly, on a regular basis. And for that reason, a recent communication from the Reserve Bank of India on the new Rs. 20 note has triggered a fresh round of concern among those working with differently abled people. Does this note have indicators for the visually-challenged to be able to identify it?

 A little probing suggests that denominations below Rs. 100 are not user-friendly for the visually impaired. That’s not just worrisome, but also insensitive for a nation that has a large visually-impaired population and a growing ageing population. In fact, a petition doing the rounds to make Indian currency more accessible asks, “how would you feel if everytime you want to spend or get cash , you have to rely on another person to know the amount. Frightening and disabling isn’t it?”

And yet, this is the daily challenge of over 50 lakh blind people in the country and the lakhs of senior citizens with low eyesight, the petition states. “Totally blind people need different size of notes and tactile marks that can be easily felt by touch. Low vision individuals need contrast colours and large font. Most of our bank notes and coins are difficult for the blind to identify.

The new notes have multiplied the challenge. Digital currency still remains inaccessible....,” the petition notes, urging the Finance Ministry, RBI and Prime Minister to make all modes of monetary transactions accessible for all persons with disabilities including the blind. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandates all Indian public and private establishments to provide services in an accessible manner, the petition says. But do we need a law to make institutions sensitive to the needs of the disabled and elderly?

thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article27042551.ece

Serious disability in financial inclusion drive

11 August 2017

CHARAN SINGH

Banking services should be accessible, in terms of design and technology, for the nearly three crore special needs population

Three years ago, from ramparts of the Red Fort Prime Minister Modi had spoken about financial inclusion which has since then successfully made a paradigm shift in banking penetration. Now, after opening new banking accounts for most households, we must move to the next stage where benefits should reach the silent majority of those individuals with disability.

India, a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in effect from May 2008, has an obligation to comply to the convention which promotes, defends and reinforces human rights of the disabled.

As the 10th year of compliance to one of the most comprehensive human right treaty of the 21st century approaches, India needs to take a look at its efforts for the disabled.

Consequent to the Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana, nearly 99.9 per cent of households now have a bank account. A bank account implies availability of financial resources, for livelihood purposes, at reasonable rates without being at the mercy of greedy money lenders charging exorbitant interest rates.

India, though unrecognised, has been a pioneer in financial inclusion starting with nationalisation of commercial banks in 1955, 1969 and 1980, and undertaking various initiatives such as priority sector lending and encouraging microfinance institutions for higher banking penetration.

However, factors such as lack of awareness, poverty, low income, illiteracy, unemployment and inadequate branch network continue to restrict financial inclusion of certain sections of society, especially the disabled.

Enabling inclusion

First, and most importantly, disability refers to an individual who lacks abilities to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. These mainly comprise blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental challenges and mental illness. The country has, by extremely conservative estimates, about 2.7 crore people categorised as persons with disability (PwD).

Census 2011 shows that nearly 69 percent of PwDs stay in rural areas and only one-third of this disabled population are working, out of which 31 per cent are in agriculture. Those with locomotor disability accounted for largest share of 20 per cent amongst the disabled followed by those with visual and hearing disability.

In fact, though not included, a large number of 11 crore elderly also struggle with similar disabilities impacting their banking activities. Therefore, in view of the diversity in the issues faced as well as types of disabilities, necessitate a need for multi-spectral approach to ensure financial inclusion of PwDs.

To address the issue of financial inclusion of the disabled, global practices vary. International guidelines for web accessibility is followed by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the US. It ensures multiple formats of information like audio, braille documents and larger font size, and images with text description.

Tactile keypads, optimised ATM locations, ramp facilities, larger screens, audio output, low tables, specialised privacy standards during banking operation are features ensured in Australia, Sweden and the US.

The incidence of disability implies cost, both direct and indirect, to the individual and the respective family. These costs range from health, rehabilitation, education, training, employment, insurance, transport to assistive equipment.What it takes

As in advanced countries, the Government needs to consider providing financial assistance and assistive equipment to PwDs and their families to enhance probability of livelihood or directly provide jobs to PwDs. The Government, given its mandate, could also consider incentivising private sector to encourage recruitment of PwDs.

In 1977, nominal reservation of 1 per cent for specific disabilities in government jobs was introduced and extended in 1995 to 3 per cent. However, the Government and public sector institutions have achieved limited success.

Several studies show that on an average, PwDs account for nearly 0.5 per cent of total workforce in the organised sector. ILO claimed that 73.6 per cent of PwDs in India are still outside the workforce.

To tap the potential of demographic dividend, it is imperative to equip and enable the youth amongst PwDs to be at par with the rest of the cohort.

Entrepreneurial ventures is one of the means for the disabled to be financially independent, free from discriminatory and sometimes stringent requirements of mainstream employment. But unfortunately, PwDs face multiple societal hurdles.

Majority of the financial services including banks do not take a benign approach in providing financial support to the disabled. The RBI guidelines to banks to provide cheque books, ATM and locker facilities to the visually challenged, ramp facilities and tactile keypad at ATMs and to not deny services on grounds of possible risk in operation of banking facilities has, unfortunately, not borne encouraging results.

There is also an issue in terms of identifying the magnitude of disability leading to preconceived notions on capacity of the individual. Hence, cultural brokering can be an effective means of training the service providers, including banks and sensitising the general population of special needs of PwDs so as to bridge the cultural gap.

In an emerging economy like ours, it is very important that government and welfare-oriented institutions play an important role and share the responsibility of providing the disabled a dignified life. It also makes economic sense, as according to World Bank, ensuring employment to the disabled can help in enhancing economic growth.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/serious-disability-in-financial-inclusion-drive/article9814248.ece

The writer is professor of economics and social science at IIM-Bangalore. With inputs from Rinusha Rajan

CREDIT CARD FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED FROM PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

via http://www.prateekagarwal.webs.com/creditCard_facility_for_blind_persons.doc

SCHEME FOR ISSUE OF CREDIT CARD TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS

As per Reserve Bank of India directions advising the banks to make available all the banking facilities to the visually challenged individuals, a scheme for issuing credit cards has been formulated. The details of the scheme are as follows:-

1. Eligibility Criteria

Special Feature A Credit Card applicant who is visually impaired person must possess a voice enabled mobile phone for the purpose of communication of transaction happening on the credit card.
S.No	Particulars
1.	Educational qualification	Minimum 10th Class Pass
2.	Age:	For Primary Card	For add-on-Card
		21-65 years	18-65 years
3.	Income Criteria :-    The applicant must have regular source of income
	Salaried Individuals/  Business/  self employed /  Professionals	Classic Card
		Minimum. Rs.80,000/- pa.
4.	Address Status:	The Applicant should either be resident / employed within the city limit of identified centre.
5	Banking relationship	The applicant should be a Customer of  PNB with a satisfactory track record for minimum six months

2.      Other Specification:              Only photo card will be issued

3. Documents to be submitted:

The Printed Credit card Application forms  PNB 1151 for public will be used:-

Applicant, Individual account holder of PNB will submit his/her Application  form along with undertaking as per annexure A,  at an urban branch office where he/she maintains his/her account at the approved centre for credit card issuance.

Duly completed application form should be accompanied with the following documents: -

1. Undertaking from the individual as per Annexure A.
2. Applicants Photo to be affixed on the Application
3. Copy of Residence Proof i.e. Voter ID card or Driving License or Passport or Telephone Bill or Electricity Bill.
4. Self attested Copy of PAN Card; or, Form 60 / 61 ( with Photo ID).
5. Copy of Income Proof  i.e. copy of Form 16/ Income Tax Return or Salary Certificate.

4. Card Credit Limit: (Public)   Preapproved Credit card limit as detailed hereafter:

           Minimum: Rs.10,000/- 

           Maximum:  Rs.25,000/-   

           Cash limit: 20% of Card Credit limit

Pre-approved card limits for various income ranges under classic cards for Public

Income Range (In Rupees)	80000  to  125000	Over Rs. 125000 to 150000	Over. 150000 to 200000	Over 200000
Card credit Limit  (In Rupees)	10000	15000	20000	25000

5. Terms and Conditions:

-       All other terms and conditions as applicable to Individual /classic will be applicable.

6. Other Terms & conditions:

The following distinctive features have been added to the existing procedural guidelines, for issue of credit card to visually impaired persons:-

-       A Credit Card applicant who is visually impaired person must possess a voice enabled mobile phone for the purpose of communication of transaction happening on the credit card.

-     Only Photo-card will be issued. . Applicant must affix his/her photograph on his

      application form.

-       Pre-approved credit cards linked to income of the individual will be issued.

-       Cash withdrawal limit for withdrawal of cash at ATM is proposed at 20% of card Credit limit.

-       An undertaking as per format ‘Annexure A ‘ to be obtained from the visually impaired person , whereby the individual will be responsible for all transactions taking place through usage of Credit Card at POS terminals/ATMs or through internet.

-       PIN mailer will be sent to the Card Holder through ‘Registered post only.

7. Staff cases: In case of staff the card holder limit  and Classic/Gold will be issued as per scheme for issuing credit card to staff.

8. Procedure to be followed by Branch Office

Ø  Incumbent-In-Charge of the branch will forward the application with recommendation only after he/she is satisfied that branch officials have performed the DIP check and applicant is fulfilling the KYC norms.

Ø  Branch will then proceed to enter the application in the CBS system  as per procedure detailed in Annexure II to ITD/CBS Circular No. 88 dated11.12.2008. The Applications will be entered in CBS by invoking the menu CCAPPL.

Ø  After entering and verification of all applications through ‘CCAPPL’ for the day the ‘Application Forwarding Schedule’ will be generated by invoking Menu Option ‘APPLSCHD’. Branch will print out the format in triplicate.

Ø  Two sets of schedule along with Application and Annexure A (undertaking by the individual applicant along with attached documents will be sent to PNB Credit Card Processing Center at A 37, Sector 60 NOIDA and one copy of the schedule will be retained by the branches for their records.”

9. PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING CREDIT CARD

1. Credit Card (when issued) will not be dispatched directly to the Applicant. Instead the Credit card will be sent  to HO; Credit card Venture Division by the service provider.

2. CCVD will get the card deactivated and dispatch the card to Incumbent In-charge of the branch which has sourced the application.

3. Branch Official will deliver the deactivated Credit card to Applicant Card Holder against his/her acknowledgement.

4. Card Holder will get the card activated by calling up the Call centre.

5. Cardholder will be advised by the application sourcing branch to immediately change the ATM PIN code at the nearest ATM machine so that the ATM PIN is only known to cardholder.

All concerned are requested to go through the above guidelines for issuance of credit card to visually impaired persons.

            Asstt. General Manager

*Hindi version follows

Annexure A

(Letter of Undertaking from Visually Impaired persons)

                                                                                   

                                                                                    Place_________________

                                       Date_________________

The Manager

Punjab National Bank

Credit Card Processing Centre

A-37, Sector 60 NOIDA (UP)

PIN 201301

Reg: Request for Issuance of Credit Card

With reference to my application for issuance of Credit Card, I hereby declare and confirm that:-

1. I work as…………………and my visual disability creates no hurdle in performing of my work. I can very well handle credit card if issued to me.
2. The Most Important Terms and Conditions of Credit card and features of the credit card have been read and clearly explained to me. I have understood the terms and conditions and features of credit card and perceived  risk factors have been explained to me.
3. I understand the risk involved in handling the credit card, which are higher than the customer having normal eye vision.
4. I shall operate at ATM/and use credit card at Point of sale at my own risk and responsibility.

I am in full agreement of terms and conditions and request you to issue credit card to me and undertake that in case of any unauthorized withdrawal or misuse of credit card issued to me in any manner, Punjab national bank will not be held liable or responsible for the same.

I have been read out the contents the contents of application form filled up on the basis of information given by me and all information recorded therein have been provided by me and the same are correct.

Thanking you,

That contents of the above undertaking and MITC and features of credit card have been read over to Mr/Ms………………………. (Name of the customer) and who has signed /affixed thumb impression on this undertaking after understanding the contents and in token of having explained the contents as above to the customer, we append our signaturesto this undertaking as witnesses.

                                                                                                     

        Yours faithfully,

                                                                                               

                          Signatures

Address________________________                    

              _______________________

                                                                                          ________________________

 Witnessed:-

1………………………Signature………………………………………………………(Address)

2………………………Signature………………………………………………………(Address)         

DECLARATION BY THE BANK OFFICIAL POSTED AT APPLICATION SOURCING BRANCH OFFICE 

I………………………….       .son/daughter of …………………………           aged…..years and residing at……………………………………………do hereby state and declare and olemnly affirm that

I have read out and explained all the contents of of the application for credit card of Punjab National bank and terms and conditions applicable to the same to mr./ms………………………………and he/she has confirmed to me that he/she  has understood all such terms and conditions. I have been fully authorized by Mr./Ms……………………….

To complete all formalities with respect to issuance of credit card in accordance with his/her instructions.

Dated this…………….on this day……………..

                     Signature of Bank Official

TALKING ATM

SBI to install 7,000 talking ATMs for visually challenged

India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) plans to introduce 7,000  voice enabled ATMs across the country for visually challenged  customers beginning next month.

"Out of our 18,500 ATMs, 7,000 will be made voice enabled for visually challenged people. We expect to launch these talking ATMs starting  next month," SBI's General Manager (Alternate Channels) Amitabh Kumar said  at a CII seminar in Mumbai on Thursday.

These voice enabled ATMs, customised with headphones and braille key pads, will offer services like funds transfer and downloading of account statements, Kumar said.

Presently, SBI is testing voice enabled ATMs with its partners NCR and Diebold and expects to make these operational in a month's time, he said.

SBI plans to install these ATMs in metro, urban and semi urban towns across the country.

"The country has 10.6 million visually challenged people and it is the duty of the banks to help these people to meet their banking needs," ICICI Bank's CEO and Managing Director, Chanda Kochhar, speaking at the seminar,  said.

ICICI Bank has installed its first talking ATM in 2003. Over the  years, the bank has also ensured that the basic banking facilities can be used by physically handicapped people.

ATMs set to become blind friendly

8 Jan 2010, 0245 hrs IST,ET Bureau

MUMBAI: With automated teller machines fast turning out to be the primary channel for cash withdrawals, banks are working on ensuring that even handicapped customers have access to these machines. For starters, around 7,000 ATMs of State Bank of India are being readied for use by blind customers for most banking transactions.

Amitabh Kumar, general manager, alternate channels at SBI said the bank has completed a pilot project for ATM while the software to internet banking for visually-challenged is in place. Both the projects will be implemented in a month’s time, he said while speaking at a seminar on banking access for visually-challenged, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

The move to do so follows a dictate from RBI to banks early this year that all its branches and ATMs should be made accessible to persons with disabilities.

RBI had also said banks should make at least one third of new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with braille keypads and place them strategically in consultation with other banks to ensure that at least one talking ATM with Braille keypad is generally available in each locality for catering to needs of visually-impaired persons. Banks may also bring the locations of such talking ATMs to the notice of their visually-impaired customers.

Speaking on the sidelines of the seminar, Mr Kumar said of its 18,000 ATM, its 7,000 ATMs would be accessible to the visually-disabled. However, it has not yet activated since the bank has issued special debit card to the visually-impaired to access these ATMs. However, he could not indicate the number of cards that the bank is likely to issue since the bank does not have the data on the number of visually-impaired banking with them. He indicated that the bank has been in talks with both NCR and Diebold — the two ATM providers to procure the such ATMs.

With regards to internet banking, Mr Kumar said they have also acquired a software called Jaws to enable internet banking for visually-impaired. The key features under internet banking include checking the balance, funds transfer and download account statement.

It will also have a ‘deadman’s switch — wherein the user can enter this key if he fears intrusion to his privacy while he is doing online transactions, following which the page will collapse and the account will not be accessible for three days, or till such a time the account-holder approaches the bank to activate it. Mr Kumar also said banks are looking at putting ramps at some of their ATMs to help the physically challenged access ATMs.

Speaking at the same seminar, ICICI Bank managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar said banks should be sensitive to the special needs of these people and that it was the responsibility of the banking industry to see to it that they are able to conduct banking activity independently.

Braille-enabled ATMs for the visually challenged finally here

Aug 12 2009

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) directive to banks asking one third of their automated teller machines (ATMs) to be enabled with systems for people with various disabilities has set the ATM manufacturers on task.

NCR Corporation and Diebold Systems, two ATM manufacturers, have unveiled their machines designed for the visually challenged in Mumbai on We-dnesday.

The machine that is voice-aided and has Braille keyboard — which can be read by the visually challenged — was unveiled after the two companies worked with the Xavier’s Resource Centre for Visually Challenged (XRCVC) on the sp-ecial requirements and difficulties of the visually challenged people.

Early this year, RBI had asked the banks to ensure that one-third of their offsite ATMs be enabled with systems that can help people with visual or other orthopaedic disabilities in its quest for financial inclusion.

According to an official from NCR, not many people with disabilities have an ATM card and are savvy enough to use ATMs and, hence, a voice-aided Braille would prove useful. When asked, XRCVC director Sam Tarporevala said he himself does not have an ATM card and having such a machine would motivate him to have one. Of the existing 40,000 ATMs operational now, only 2 per cent are voice-aided. “The existing ATM machines can be upgraded to the needs of visually challenged and the voice aided systems are inbuilt and need to be just enabled in every existing machines,” said Anurag Nigam, director-managed services, Diebold Systems.

The cost of the normal ATM machines are anywhere between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh and making up-gradation will cost ar-ound Rs 50,000.

© 2010 Financial Chronicle, All rights reserved

IndiaTechonline.com

http://www.indiatechonline.com/atms-for-disabled-77.php

Finally, hope of ATMs for India’s visually challenged 

As banks are prodded by RBI, leading ATMs makers showcase disabled-friendly machines One of India’s more shameful statistics – the almost total neglect of physically ( especially visually) challenged customers’ needs by the banking establishment – might hopefully change for the better: Last week saw two leading international manufacturers of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) demonstrate special disabled –friendly machines at the Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (www.xrcvc.org/) – a unit within Sr Xavier’s College in Mumbai.

ATM maker Diebold –the pioneer with ATMs in India -- has installed an ATM at ZRCVC which boasts the following special features: wheel chair access; large display for users with partial vision; Braille-enabled function keys and guide labels for other functionalities including card reader, receipt, cash dispenser, depositor; bunch cash presenter for ease in collecting cash ; personalized headphone jack with voice control features;Voice guided transactions integrated digital video recorder for enhanced security. Based on feedback at this location, Diebold plans to scale up and tweak the design before offering these ATMs to India-based banks for deployment.

“We are proud to offer ATMs for the specially abled and are looking at deployments across India per banks requirements.”, says Naresh Hosangady, Managing Director, Diebold India www.dieboldindia.com

NCR who also have a major presence in India with their ATMS, are also known to have put up a special ATM at ZECVC – and between the two, they can be depended on to provide solutions that will make banking disabled-friendly – if Indian banks want to go that way: today, only a minuscule fraction of over 40,000 ATMS nationwide, can boast even such global given’s like wheelchair access, let alone special features for the visually challenged. Pradeep Sen, Managing Director for NCR in India said, “We are happy to showcase this ATM with features that would make banking easier for the visually challenged, thereby, reinforcing our commitment of making ATMs accessible to all types of consumers."

Says Sam Taraporevala, Director, XRCVC: “ATMs today have increased convenience banking for the able-bodied customers. For the same effect to take place involving disabled people, ATMs will need to scale to meet accessibility standards. The ATM industry, as well as the banking industry all over the world, has made accessibility an inherent part of its production and deployment” .

Indeed, Indian banks have been routinely refusing to issue ATM cards to their customers with poor or no vision. That may soon change: In June 2008, that the Reserve Bank of India issued its first circular onBanking Facilities for the visually challenged , which said: “Banks are advised to ensure that all the banking facilities such as cheque book facility including third party cheques, ATM facility, Net banking facility, locker facility, retail loans, credit cards etc. are invariably offered to the visually challenged without any discrimination.” http://www.rbi.org.in/commonman/English/scripts/Notification.aspx?Id=356

And in a circular on April 29 this year, RBI subtly changed advice to mandate: “Banks should make at least one third of new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with Braille keypads and place them strategically in consultation with other banks to ensure that at least one talking ATM with Braille keypad is generally available in each locality for catering to needs of visually impaired persons”. http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=4961

One in three new ATMs is a tall order – and a huge leap for the Indian banking industry. But it might see it also as a huge opportunity: According to Retail Banking Research ( www.rbrlondon.com ) India is one of the world’s fastest growing ATM markets, with their number poised to touch 100,000 by 2013. Put that number alongside another – the number of India’s visually challenged, which various estimates place between 12 million and 15 million – and one can see why last week’s tech showcase in Mumbai is not a day too soon.  ( Aug 24 2009) 

   

TALKING ATM : No necessity with Pin number. Give directions with voice. These are the features of the latest ATMs. Bangalore company trail is going on. And these ATMs will be available by this year ending.

At the time of using the ATM, the individual, has to follow the procedures like card swiping, pin entry, as per the instructions displayed on the screen. If the pin number is forgotten the individual could not complete his transaction.

Some times this procedure may cause confusion even to the educated individuals. So if we imagine about the illiterate persons and villagers, the present procedure is definitely found as complicated nature. Now the Integra Micro systems, Bangalore has designed a new ATM terminal. It is having very latest features. If thumb impression has been recorded, the ATM terminal it self give guidance in the language of individual about the next action to be taken by him.

Talking ATM

On the name IMFAST branchless solutions, this organization has already brought a portable ATM model for use of village people. At present the terminal and the Cash dispenser are made available separately. This company is making efforts to provide   these in one part. The final touches are doing by the company to the new design. This project will be completed by this year ending and the new ATM terminals will be available in the market.

How it works: The cash dispenser with an operator (Business Correspondent – BC) will be established in the business commercial areas of Metro cities like New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata. The candidate who is appointed as BC, he may be small shop vendor or he may be the PCO owner. The customers in these centers can use the services like balance enquiry, withdrawal, mini statement, print from this cash dispenser. If cash is required, on behalf the customer, the BC can use the smart card provided to him and put his thumb impression and then he can go for login, so as to complete the customer transactions.

Talking ATM

The present designed Cash dispensers are useful for Rs. 50/- and Rs 10/- notes. BC is eligible to fill the cash in the dispensers. The company is making efforts to upgrade the system so as to use other denomination  notes.

At present, the Integra Company has established 1,300 terminals. The clients to this company are Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central bank, Corporation bank, Indian overseas bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Mysore, Syndicate bank, Vijaya bank etc.

ATM Cards For the Blind: Information Required.

Courtesy Access India discussion


Wed Mar 28 04:18:44 CDT 2007
ATM Cards For the Blind: Information Required. 


Hey friends, many of us are facing the same problem. I have also faced the same problem with ICICI bank. There is no uniform practice followed by the banks. Some of the banks such as PNB have taken clearcut policy decision that they would not issue ATM cards to VI person nor they would allow them to avail the facility of Net banking. I have the copy of the Prasanna Pincha case. I have also the copy of the petition which was filed by him. In my view, we should file a public interest petition in the Supreme Court requesting to issue a clear cut guideline to public sector as well as the private banks keeping in view the developments which have taken place within the area of assistive technology through which we can have access to the net banking facility. I will discuss the judgement in my next mail with you. 


-------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1 Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:39:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [AI] final judgement of Prasanna Kumar Pincha Vs. union of India!


Dear Friends,


If anybody has the final judgement on Prasanna Kumar Pincha Vs. Union of India, please do send at the earliest. I had warned the ICICI Bank of legal action in case they fail to respond to my application for opening a normal account providing all the facilities given to a usual customer. 


Now they have agreed for providing me the same facilities given I give them an undertaking to this effect that those facilities would be on my own risk. However, by mistake I provided them with CCPD judgement on the banking for disabled which lays down this condition that a visually challenged person could be issued a crossed cheque at his own risk by taking an undertaking to this effect from him. If I could have the above said judgment then I could show them the High Court decision which bars such conditions. please do help at the earliest. 


One of my friends has been refused ATM card by SBI though the branch manager opened an account after a lot of fuss. I know that  SBI has issued ATM cards and some accessible ATM counters have been opened in India. Would you please inform me the details and also the rules on it? 


Best regards, 


------------------------------ 


Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:34:31 +0530
Re: [AI] final judgement of Prasanna Kumar Pincha Vs. union of India!


I wonder, why such cumbersome proceedings were required to open an account in the first place? I have a trading/saving account with icici bank. I had mentioned my disability and they had no objections over it. I am using debit card, online trading, internet banking and all other facilities without any undertaking. My case was resolved from their head branch in Mumbai.




------------------------------ 


Message: 8 Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:17:50 +0530 
Subject: Re: [AI] final judgement of Prasanna Kumar Pincha Vs. union of India!


The same ICICI weren't prepared to give me a s/b account in Bangalore and worse, while I could operate a debit/atm card with Centurion Bank (Chennai), who gave me the facility with the full knowledge of my disability and also allowed me to issue cheques, State Bank of Mysore didn't give me cheque books or ATM/debit cards. They issued it only after my wife became a joint a/c holder. 


The thing is, officers decide things over the counter without consulting the regulations or orders. In the case of a VI person, they presume too many things and don't even bother to cross check with their HQ, as in your case. So, decisions on issuing cheque book or ATM cards are made arbitrarily. 


Another example of such decisions is while a previous officer in SBM allowed me to sign on withdrawal slips (with the signature of the person accompanying me to collect the money) another person who took over changed the procedure and asked me also to affix my thumb impression, and didn't listen to our explanations as to how it's difficult to verify a person's thumb impression. 


So, I feel, banks, especially the national banks, though the safest option for us to deposit our money, are not disabled friendly.