Thanks for the nice blog Mr Banker. The guidelines are all there but who will implement? On 'World Disability Day' last year, Times of India published my RTI expose that RBI doesnot have a list of all 'accessible' ATMs in India.
Sharing with the larger group that article below: Few ATMs disabled-friendly Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN Dec 3, 2012, 02.20AM IST NEW DELHI: Despite directions from the Reserve Bank of India in 2009 and the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities writing to the department of banking operations and development in December 2011 to make automated teller machines in the city disabled-friendly, not much action seems to have taken place on the ground. RTI applications to the RBI have revealed it has no information on the matter. Section 46 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 provides for non-discrimination against persons with disabilities in the built environment and the RBI, in a master circular on July 1, 2009, advised banks to provide all ATMs with ramps so that wheelchair users and disabled can easily access them. Arrangements should be such that the height of the ATM is not an impediment for a wheelchair user. According to the coordinator of the enabling unit at University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi University, Dr Satendra Singh, India has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Article 9 (on accessibility) is legally binding. "It is the responsibility of the RBI to implement its circular. But it does not have any information on ATMs and their accessibility status," he said. Singh, himself, suffers from 70% locomotor disability. "The ATM near my workplace is inaccessible not only to disabled but also senior citizens. A large population of the country comprises the aged who, too, have mobility problems," Singh added. To a query to the RBI via an RTI application filed by Singh seeking the number of ATMs made accessible to disabled, the reply sent on October 31, 2012, states "this department has no infor -mation". To another query on action taken by the department of banking operations and development following the RBI's letter to the department of banking supervision in January 2012 to ensure compliance by banks, the reply stated deputy chief commissions, office of the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities and ministry of social justice, government of India, have been advised to look into the matter. Nripendra Pathak, a disabled scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, filed a complaint to the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities on ATM inaccessibility in October 2011. The CCPD issued an order in December 2011 to "to ensure the ATMs are made accessible to persons with disabilities in a time-bound manner". In the RTI reply in this specific case, no action has been cited. Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-03/delhi/35570203_1_accessibility-status-persons-with-disabilities-act-locomotor-disability -- Dr Satendra Singh, MD, FSS Assistant Professor of Physiology University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi, India-110095 Coordinator, Equal Opportunity Cell Founder, Infinite Ability The Enablist (blog) <http://theenablist.blogspot.in/> Infinite Ability: exploring disAbility through creativity<http://infiniteability.yolasite.com/> Enabling Unit, EOC, UCMS <http://enablingunit.yolasite.com/> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in 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..
