The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised banks to adopt measures to ensure that visually challenged and those with physical disabilities aren't discriminated against or at a disadvantage when accessing banking facilities.
RBI's advisory follows a report by Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities which noted that visually challenged persons are facing problems in availing banking facilities like internet banking.
In its notification, RBI said that banks need to make sure that all 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 visually challenged persons without any discrimination as they are legally competent to contract.
RBI also advised banks to take necessary steps to provide all existing ATMs / future ATMs with ramps and to make at least one third of new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with Braille keypads.
Citing its earlier circulars in which it had advised banks to put in place effective mechanisms to seamlessly extend banking services to visually impair and physically challenged, the banking regulator advised banks to strictly adhere to instructions contained in the earlier notifications.
In September 2005 the Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities had passed Orders instructing banks to offer all the banking facilities including cheque book facility, ATM facility and locker facility to the visually challenged and also assist them in withdrawal of cash. It had also advised banks to render all possible assistance to the visually challenged for availing various banking facilities.
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