The Eyeway Helpdesk empowers blind and visually impaired people to become independent contributing members of the society. Often, we encourage our callers to pursue higher education, acquire new skills and proper training, actively seek gainful employment and aspire to thrive alongside their able-bodied peers. Many of them follow our advice and work hard towards leading a life with dignity.
Unfortunately, their education, employment, skills, talent and social standing ceases to matter when it comes to discrimination on the grounds of their inability to see. They are often seen as secondary citizens, who need a sighted crutch at all times to access services.
Banking is a common example in this context. Thousands of blind and visually impaired citizens face discrimination and denial of banking services. While some bank officials deem them ‘disabled’ to run secure transactions, others fail to imagine how a person who cannot see will sign a cheque, withdraw from an ATM or log on to internet banking.
All of the above is possible and common practice among blind citizens who use technology and other aids to carry out such financial tasks. Even if they depend on sighted help, it is still their legal right to avail banking facilities like any other citizen.
Recently two callers contacted the Eyeway helpline when their banks refused to issue an ATM card. 31-year-old Monu Kumar from Bhojpur, Bihar works as a primary school teacher. And Krushna Gaware from Pune, Maharashtra is set to retire from a government job in the Defence Ministry. Despite working independently and overcoming the challenges of vision impairment, they both felt humiliated at the hands of bank officials. It was only after repeated requests and Eyeway’s intervention with an emphasis on the RBI guidelines which state equal banking rights for visually impaired people, that the respective banks activated ATM cards for Monu and Krushna.
For inclusion to happen, the society has to acknowledge the differences in how persons with disabilities function, focus on their haves rather than have nots and accommodate them within the current scheme of things. Additionally, the policy makers have to ensure that the written word is implemented in effect, resulting in a citizen’s welfare.
Banking is a common example in this context. Thousands of blind and visually impaired citizens face discrimination and denial of banking services. While some bank officials deem them ‘disabled’ to run secure transactions, others fail to imagine how a person who cannot see will sign a cheque, withdraw from an ATM or log on to internet banking.
All of the above is possible and common practice among blind citizens who use technology and other aids to carry out such financial tasks. Even if they depend on sighted help, it is still their legal right to avail banking facilities like any other citizen.
Recently two callers contacted the Eyeway helpline when their banks refused to issue an ATM card. 31-year-old Monu Kumar from Bhojpur, Bihar works as a primary school teacher. And Krushna Gaware from Pune, Maharashtra is set to retire from a government job in the Defence Ministry. Despite working independently and overcoming the challenges of vision impairment, they both felt humiliated at the hands of bank officials. It was only after repeated requests and Eyeway’s intervention with an emphasis on the RBI guidelines which state equal banking rights for visually impaired people, that the respective banks activated ATM cards for Monu and Krushna.
For inclusion to happen, the society has to acknowledge the differences in how persons with disabilities function, focus on their haves rather than have nots and accommodate them within the current scheme of things. Additionally, the policy makers have to ensure that the written word is implemented in effect, resulting in a citizen’s welfare.
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