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Disabled friendly banking

In April 2009, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has included regional rural banks in the exercise of making at least one-third of their ATMs disabled-friendly.

According to the circular, the apex bank has been receiving suggestions from various quarters, including the Central government, to make ATMs easily accessible to persons with disability by providing ramps so that wheelchair users can access them and adjust the height of the machine accordingly. The RBI says it has also been receiving suggestions for installing speaking software and key pads with letters in Braille to facilitate the visually impaired.

The RBI has also asked banks to take appropriate steps, including providing ramps at the entrance of their branches for the benefit of the differently-abled. It has further suggested that at least one-third of new ATMs may be installed as talking ATMs with Braille keypads.

Banks have been asked to 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.

From News reports we gather

• Punjab National Bank has taken some steps to step up “a few” disable friendly ATMs
• Around 7,000 ATMs of State Bank of India are being readied for use by blind customers for most banking transactions.
• ICICI Bank has made some noises to that effect but I cannot see any news report saying that any concrete steps have been taken.

All in all – a poor response.

Besides ATMs, banks branches need to be made more disabled friendly. Currently there are no real efforts in that direction. No ramps for people in wheel chairs. No easier access even for the elderly.

I may have missed several points here. Would our readers like to contribute to suggestions about how banks can be made more disabled friendly in a cost effective manner?