The new stainless steel coin can be easily mistaken for a one-rupee coin, as it is round in shape and does not have sharper edges like the old two rupee coin. The new coin has the number '2' boldly embossed on one side and a symbol for 'Unity in Diversity' on the other.

When handed the new two-rupee coin, Shanti Gawde, a blind woman who sells pass covers at Andheri Station (Mumbai) said in disbelief, "No it can't be, I think you have given me a one rupee coin."

Earlier, one could easily make out the difference between the one and two rupee coin on the basis of their edges - one rupee coin had round edges while the two-rupee coin had uneven edges.

Blind people are upset with the use of this new coin becoming more common. "Anything that limits the independence of an individual is a sure no no," said Kanchan Pamnani, a visually impaired law practitioner.

The Reserve Bank of India (R.B.I.), however, thinks that these are initial reactions. "We will wait for some more feedback and if the protest intensifies, we will consider taking some action in due course", the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Pamnani said, "At this stage it is not really an agitation, we are requesting the R.B.I. to stop the circulation of these coins. But if no action is taken, at a later stage we may think of moving the court."