Bank for the disabled

Deputy General Manager, Mr Birendra Singh, said “we endeavoured to make the bank barrier free for the disabled”.

The change in banking operations will prove to be a milestone in integrating the disabled into the mainstream society” he said.

Arushi Secretary, Mr Anil Mudgil maintained that their target was to make as many as 60,000-70,000 buildings disabled-friendly.

Besides opening a special counter exclusively for the disabled, ramps have been provided inside the bank building to enable the disabled to move freely. The counters have also been lowered for the person sitting on a wheel chair.

Even the brochures pertaining to various investment schemes have been printed in braille language to cater to blind persons.

The Disability Act which came into force in 1996, spelt that all public places should be made barrier free to enable them to become accessible to disabled persons.

Despite the fact that the act was started four years back, the same was not being complied with sincerity, Mr Mudgil maintained.

This was a positive beginnning in a right direction, he said adding that they had also approached other banks including HDFC, to emulate the same pattern.

Mr Rohit Trivedi, visually impaired and working as an Assistant Professor feels that this would go a long way in making the disabled self reliant. They would also be able to participate actively in investment policies, he said adding that the possibility of them being exploited was alo minimised.

Physically challenged Satya, a customer says, at last there is a bank where I can wilthdraw money without seeking help from anyone”.