Hi all, Sharing link of my article on the 10th Anniversary of Accessible and Talking ATM in India. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10th-anniversary-accessible-talking-atm-india-prashant-naik
Sharing text here for easy reading. 10th Anniversary of Accessible and Talking ATM in India Disclaimer - This article is written in my personal capacity. I have been associated with Talking ATM and promoting accessible banking since 2010; more than 12 years now. So, expressing my reflections on the 10th Anniversary of 1st Accessible and Talking ATM in India. Talking ATM Offering accessible banking services presents a business opportunity before the banks and is their social responsibility as well. In India, the financial regulator (RBI) has also directed the banks wide notification (DBOD.No.Leg.BC.123 /09.07.005/2008-09) suggesting that at least one-third of the new ATMs of all banks must be accessible. Talking ATM is one such great achievement and an excellent example of technological solutions for persons with blindness allowing independent cash withdrawal with security and privacy. Talking ATM India An accessible search portal, conceptualized and founded by myself and Saidarshan Bhagat in 2014 and owned by XRCVC, Mumbai since 2017. https://talkingatmindia.org/ This Website locator helps in searching nearest Talking ATM using various platforms like computer, mobile, tablet, etc with convenience and quick search • A unique locator service to discover accessible bank machines in India. • Locations data from many banks available. • Geo location based smart search as well as advanced search features. • One stop for resources, demos and circulars on banking access. • Download Indian Banks Association Bankers ' Guide 2017. • Talking ATM India Supported by Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). • Recipient of Global Elevate Award. XRCVC’s lead in Financial Access Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) took the initiative as early as in the year 2009 to coordinate with the banking industry and ATM vendors to make fully accessible ATMs. The first demonstration of such a prototype ATM was organized on August 12th, 2009 in the XRCVC office at St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Further XRCVC worked closely in collaboration with Union Bank of India and with many other banks in India to enhance financial access. Union Bank of India’s contribution Union Bank of India is pioneer in this area which installed the first Truly Accessible and Talking ATM in the campus of Blind Peoples Association, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad on 6th June 2012. Indian Banks Association has recognized Union Bank’s model as a standard for other banks to replicate. The ATM location also has a ramp for wheelchair-bound persons, a guide path on the floor to direct the vision-impaired towards the machine, Braille guide labels on the machine, and complete stepwise voice guidance through headphones. Users can opt for voice guidance in English or Hindi. Union Bank of India is the only bank which has prepared and published handbook on Talking ATM usage by blind and low vision. The DAISY and accessible PDF format of the 3rd edition of the bilingual user manuals are available on the bank's corporate website. Bank’s new accessibility project Union Access has taken a proactive approach and suggested a 10th Anniversary celebration to concern teams which happened today which itself is a major step at this juncture on ATM accessibility and spreading awareness. Current Status – on 10th anniversary of India’s 1st Talking ATM · Usage of ATM by the general public and also by visually impaired persons has reduced a lot due to huge penetration of digital payments like UPI and QR codes. · Given the advent of innovative financial technologies (FinTech) today, novel financial solutions are introduced aiming towards a cashless economy. · However, ATM is still the only option we have to get the hard cash 24x7 anywhere anytime other than a bank branch. · So, there is a definite need to have an ATM with a functional talking ATM feature at key locations and especially near NGOs for the persons with disabilities. · The ground reality is not that encouraging, unfortunately on the Talking ATM front. · Banks have not updated locations data regarding Talking ATM and ramp locations since long. · Due to Covid situation in the last 2 years many things got slipped including maintenance and implementation of Talking ATMs. · Technology update with new Operating Systems and enhanced security needs for ATMs saw many new installations of softwares on ATMs which resulted in removal of the Talking ATM program. · Instead of just an ATM i.e., cash dispenser banks have installed multipurpose machines like ATM with cash depositor, recycler, bunch note acceptor, etc. · IBA and RBI have not taken any stock of the Talking ATMs and compliance to its directives. · At present one key observation is that concerned officials handling ATM operations, service engineers and vendors are unaware of Talking ATM for blind. · `Still misconception largely exists that a partial talking ATM is a talking ATM for the blind. · Most ATMs have default speech (voice guidance), which says hello, welcome, bye-bye. This does not serve the purpose of accessible Talking ATMs for the blind. · Even today there are many cases of denial of ATM cards and banking services to persons with vision impairment. · Talking ATM solution is not upgraded to match the need of new features and to cover all features and functions of the ATM since long. · Financial institutes have not invested in developing and extending full-fledged ATM operation with voice guidance. Concluding observations On the day of 10th anniversary of the talking ATM an encouraging development is that Union Bank of India chose to celebrate the occasion and reaffirm its commitment in the area of enhancing accessibility for persons with diverse needs. Union Bank of India has made it a day to celebrate its 1st Truly accessible and talking ATM launch. Union Bank and Blind Peoples Association jointly arranged an event at BPA, Vastrapur, Ahmadabad location. Truly accessible Talking ATM successful cash withdrawal transaction and a value-added feature from BPA of Braille instructions board inside the ATM room was demonstrated. Today’s event I feel will give good momentum to revive Talking ATMs in India. Important References: 1. On June 4, 2008, the RBI issued a path-breaking circular (RBI/2007-08/358 DBOD.No.Leg BC.91/09.07.005/2007-08) directing all Scheduled Commercial Banks 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”. 2. On November 18, 2008, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) issued procedural guidelines (vide circular No CE/RB-1/vip/1766) to the Chief Executives of all its member banks on providing banking facilities to visually impaired persons. 3. In April 2009, the RBI issued another path-breaking circular (No RBI/2008-09/431 DBOD.No.Leg.BC.123 / 09.07.005 /2008-09) making it mandatory “to make at least one-third of new ATMs installed as talking ATMS with Braille keypads…”, 4. On February 27th 2013, the IBA issued a circular laying down the standards of what constitutes a truly accessible ATM. These standards outline what constitutes ‘accessibility’ features for blind and low-vision users and wheelchair users and process standards that ought to be followed to ensure effective deployment and uniformity amongst accessible ATMs of different banks and therefore facilitating ease at the level of the end consumer. Thanks & Regards Prashant Naik -- 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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