KOZHIKODE: Nithin Raman, 39, a professional working with a private firm in Kozhikode, is blind from birth and does not need any help to carry on with his daily routine. But when it comes to withdrawing money from an ATM or going to a bank, he has to turn to friends or colleagues for help, as neither ATMs nor banks are disabled-friendly except a few in the city.
Despite directions from the RBI in 2009 to make all the ATM centres disabled-friendly, the majority remain inaccessible to the disabled. “The banks have been directed to ensure that new ATMs provide audible instructions and Braille keypads, but I could not experience these facilities in any of the ATMs I had been visiting,” Nithin said.
“The issues faced by hundreds of people like me in accessing the banking system have remained unresolved, though the system has been made simpler for the customers over the years,” he added. Kozhikode district alone has more than 500 ATMs and the city nearly 100, including those run by cooperative banks. But according to the members of the Physically Handicapped Citizens’ Forum here, only a few banks have become disabled-friendly.
As per the RBI direction, banks should provide all ATMs with ramps so that wheelchair users and disabled can access them. The height of the ATM should not be an impediment for a wheelchair user. Only recently a few banks in the city constructed ramps in their respective ATM counters. The officials of the district lead bank criticised the banks for violating the RBI guidelines and said that they should take steps for the convenience of the customers.
