Dear All, The new currency notes of Rs. 50, Rs. 200 and Rs. 500 are not accessible for the blind. This will make our daily living more challenging. We would need to sensitize authorities and masses and work with them to come up with accessible Indian currency. Blind Graduates Forum of India team has initiated a few actions. Many campaigns have failed as very few people talk about it and write to authorities and hence we would need to unite to make it happen.
Below are the problems identified and an action plan, would need your contribution, suggestions and leadership to have a sustained effort on this. Problems identified: • Length of all the new notes is the same, which Increases difficulty to identify and count the notes. The only way for us to identify is by feeling the length and breadth of the notes on our hands. • The variation between the new Rs. 50 note and Rs. 10 note is just 3 MM. Also the variation between the new Rs. 50 note and the new Rs. 200 note is just 4 MM, which is extremely difficult for people with visual impairment to perceive. • The bleed lines on all the relevant notes including the new Rs. 50, Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 are of no help in identifying the notes. It is also not a practical solution to count bundles of notes. An average blind person cannot feel the bleed lines readily and they get blurred with repeated use. • Coexistence of old and new currencies makes it very complex to count. Action Plan: • Invite NGOs, individuals and informal teams to unite in strengthening the voice on the subject. • Draft a letter for the Prime minister’s Office, the Prime minister and the RBI authorities by 31st August. We will share the letter template with you. You as an individual and organization can use the letter as template and send to the above authorities. • Launch a campaign on social media by 2nd September to sensitize masses. We will share the link of the Facebook and Twitter posts with you, would need your support in sharing and spreading the word. • Seek for support and guidance from competent legal experts and File a PIL by 30th September with a view to find a long-term solution on making Indian currency accessible. • Circulate contact details of Man Ki Baat for people to send their message on accessible currency to the Prime Minister one week before the next broadcast. • Collaborate with an agency or educational institute to Conduct a detail research on accessibility issues with Indian currency and propose design solutions. Please connect with us if you have an expert research and design team. • Post questions on PRS Legislative Research website and encourage parliamentarians to ask questions on accessible currency during the parliament sessions. Hoping for your active participation. Regards, Blind Graduates Forum of India 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.. To check if the post reached the list or to search for old posting, reach: https://www.mail-archive.com/ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/maillist.html _______________________________________________ Ai mailing list Ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in http://accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/mailman/listinfo/ai
