Dear Mister Kayne and the Access India Group, I hope this message finds you all in high spirits. 🌟
I was relieved to read this thread and realize that I am not alone in my frustration with the MANI application. It appears the challenges with its practical utility are universal within our community. In my daily life, I navigate these hurdles by primarily using UPI for even the smallest transactions. While the suggestion of folding notes is helpful, it is only effective when you are certain of the denominations you are carrying. Beyond that, identifying coins remains a complete nightmare. I strongly agree with the sentiment that the rise of digital payments and UPI does not excuse the neglect of physical currency accessibility. A significant portion of the population, particularly the elderly within the visually impaired community, may not be comfortable with digital-only solutions. Accessible physical currency remains a fundamental necessity for independence. I am curious about other alternatives. I have noticed some transit and merchant cards that allow for small-value tap payments, which could be explored, though their utility is limited by the lack of point-of-sale machines at local vendors. Additionally, I have heard of "talking wallets" being introduced by various organizations. If anyone here has experience with these, I would appreciate it if you could share details regarding their pricing, practicality, and overall effectiveness. It is encouraging to see this topic being discussed so openly. We must continue to come forward and ensure our voices are heard to achieve truly inclusive design. 🕊️ Warm regards, Udit Pandey Phone & WhatsApp: +91 99909 55800 Email: [email protected] Instagram: udit.pandey123 Wishing you and your loved ones safety, peace, and strength. 🙏 Warm regards, Udit Pandey 📱 Phone & WhatsApp: +91 99909 55800 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: udit.pandey123 🙏 Wishing you and your loved ones safety, peace, and strength. 🕊 Let us speak no evil, see no evil, and hear no evil. On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 5:43 PM Mister Kayne <[email protected]> wrote: > Interesting really, but I am yet to hear back from the folks that reported > about the plastic currency that is soon to be introduced and circulated. > > > > The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is actively considering the introduction > of polymer (plastic) currency notes to improve durability and reduce > printing costs, but no final launch date or nationwide rollout has been > announced. > > > > Preliminary Phase: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra confirmed the central bank > is examining the pros and cons of polymer notes, reviving a decade-old > proposal from the 2012 pilot phase. > > > > And according to other sources, this news seems to be fake: > https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/banks/will-rbi-replace-paper-notes-with-plastic-currency-from-june-30-pib-fact-check-reveals-truth-13948119.html > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *[email protected] > *Sent:* Sunday, June 14, 2026 4:12 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [AI] Feedback regarding the practical utility of the MANI > app for visually impaired users > > > > On 7th March, 2018 a complete set of uniquely designed coins were > launched by the PM. The coins were distinctly different to touch. It was > great that the coins were released into the market but no effort was made > to withdraw the already existing coins. The new coins just added to the > confusion. > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *Mister Kayne > *Sent:* 14 June 2026 15:33 > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [AI] Feedback regarding the practical utility of the MANI > app for visually impaired users > > > > Valid points and observations, thank you for sharing the true solution to > such a deterrent challenge, “Nothing about us, without us!” > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *Shyam Sayanekar > *Sent:* Sunday, June 14, 2026 2:29 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [AI] Feedback regarding the practical utility of the MANI > app for visually impaired users > > > > Hello, I fully admire the views and observations given by Mr. Kane and Ms. > Renuka. Folding the notes in different ways is not a good solution, > because, folding the notes reduces the life of notes and further more many > times you also may receive notes already folded by someone else. Currency > notes and coins of different size and shape or of different edges (such as > smooth, broken, toothed) are the only solutions. > > > > On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 12:53 PM Renuka Gupta <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Hi Mr. cane, > > > > I have read your email with great interest. First of all, I am glad that > we have platforms like Access India where members of the visually impaired > community can openly share their experiences and discuss challenges > encountered in daily life. > > > > Regarding the MANI app, I completely agree with the concerns you have > highlighted. I am a regular user of the app myself, and while I acknowledge > that it has been helpful in certain situations, it also has several > significant limitations that affect its usefulness in real-world > environments. > Some of these limitations have already been discussed, such as > difficulties in noisy surroundings and the inability to reliably identify > worn, crumpled, or soiled currency notes. I would like to add a few more > observations based on my personal experience: > • The app does not recognize coins, which means it provides only a partial > solution for currency identification. > • Even in a quiet environment, the app can sometimes take a considerable > amount of time to identify a note. > • There have been instances where the app has incorrectly identified a > denomination, which can create confusion and potentially lead to financial > loss. > > > > While it is difficult for a customer to use the app in a busy marketplace, > I would like to highlight another important scenario: what about a > shopkeeper who is visually impaired? > A visually impaired shopkeeper may need to verify multiple notes received > from customers throughout the day. Is it realistic to expect customers to > wait while the shopkeeper opens the app and scans every note individually? > What happens when the transaction involves a large amount of money and > several notes of different denominations? In such situations, the practical > limitations of the app become even more apparent. > > > > I would also like to draw attention to the design of coins in India. In > many cases, even people without visual impairments find it difficult to > distinguish between certain denominations, particularly when coins are worn > through regular circulation. It is not uncommon to see sighted individuals > having to look closely at a coin or spend extra time identifying its value. > This highlights an important principle: accessibility benefits everyone, > not just persons with disabilities. Better currency design would assist not > only people who are blind or have low vision, but also elderly individuals, > people with age-related or minor vision loss, and even fully sighted > individuals who may be trying to identify currency in poor lighting > conditions, bright sunlight, or other challenging environments. > Accessibility should not be viewed as a special accommodation for a > particular group, but as a fundamental aspect of good design that benefits > society as a whole. > > > > For these reasons, I believe that technology-based solutions such as MANI > should be viewed only as supplementary aids and not as substitutes for > accessible currency design. > The real solution lies in designing currency notes and coins that can be > easily distinguished by touch. I am not specifically referring to Braille, > since a large proportion of visually impaired individuals are not Braille > readers. Instead, currency should incorporate clear and consistent tactile > features and distinct sizes that allow denominations to be identified > quickly and independently. > Although Indian currency notes currently vary in size, denominations such > as ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, and ₹100 have appeared in multiple designs and sizes over > the years, which can create confusion. A more consistent approach, with a > unique and standardized size and tactile pattern for each denomination, > would significantly improve accessibility and independence for persons with > visual impairments. > > > > Accessibility should not depend on a smartphone, a camera, adequate > lighting, processing time, or ideal environmental conditions. A person > should be able to identify currency instantly and confidently through touch > alone. Until that becomes a reality, solutions like MANI can only serve as > temporary workarounds rather than complete solutions. > > > > Thank you for initiating this important discussion. I hope that future > currency design and accessibility initiatives will involve meaningful > consultation with persons with visual impairments and focus on solutions > that work effectively in real-life situations. > > > > Kind regards, > > > > Renuka Gupta > Senior Accessibility Tester | CPACC > > -- > 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.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAHxE1gfQ-GB8CeOLqA5QE6Zixo7QQb6%3Djya0T2UJhKVbd6Z%3DGA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAHxE1gfQ-GB8CeOLqA5QE6Zixo7QQb6%3Djya0T2UJhKVbd6Z%3DGA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > > > > -- > > Professor Shyam M. Sayanekar > Mobile: 9920410788 > Skype id: sayanekar > > -- > 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.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CALnP%2BoVRFL%3D1FrXQdoM9%2B4-QwpMqE3GDfm9CeRxe3NOzkR9YrA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CALnP%2BoVRFL%3D1FrXQdoM9%2B4-QwpMqE3GDfm9CeRxe3NOzkR9YrA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. 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