Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 21 May 2014 directed all banks to install disabled friendly new Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). All the new ATMs that are to be installed after 1 July 2014 needs to provide audible instructions and Braille keypads to customers.
Besides, it also directed banks to lay down a road map for converting all the existing ATMs as talking ATMs with Braille keypads.
Earlier in 2009, RBI had issued a circular titled Need for Bank Branches / ATMs to be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
The main highlights were
• All banks need to make bank branches and ATMs accessible to people with disabilities and make at least one-third of the new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with Braille keypads.
• Place all the existing/new ATMs strategically in consultation with other banks to ensure that at least one talking ATM with Braille keypad is generally available in each locality for catering to needs of visually impaired persons.
• Banks may also take appropriate steps including providing ramps at the entrance of the bank branches so as not to create an impediment in their use by wheelchair users.
• Banks need to provide the facilities of magnifying glasses at all bank branches for the use of persons with low vision.
• The branches should display at a prominent place notice about the availability of magnifying glasses and other facilities available for persons with disabilities.
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