In Hisar, banks not too friendly to physically challenged

Deepender Deswal

Most of the bank branches and automatic teller machine (ATM) kiosks in Hisar town do not have proper ramps for physically challenged persons to ensure that they can easily have their services. It is mandatory for the banks to construct ramps for such clients.

Even bank branches and ATM kiosks, which are trying to follow the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this regard, have provided steep ramps that are unsafe for physically challenged persons.

The ATMs of several banks such as at the main branch of the State Bank of India near Jat College; of Union Bank of India on the Jat College road and at Matka Chowk; of SBI near the BSNL office; of Punjab National Bank (PNB) near the post office in the Red Square Market, and of many other banks in the Red Square Market, on the Delhi road, near the bus stand, markets and the railway station do not have proper ramps for differently-abled persons.

Rishikesh, president of the District Persons with Disability Association, says that though there are clear instructions from the RBI for providing ramps at ATM kiosks and bank branches, besides other facilities such as Braille keypads, the banks are still not sensitive towards the needs of this section of clients. “We face problems in accessing ATMs, and have to take the help of other persons, often unknown, by sharing the password of our debit cards with them. We are also vulnerable to fraudsters due to our disabilities,” says Sandeep, a youth from Kaimari village. 

Besides, bank officials are also not following the guidelines properly in constructing ramps. “The height of a ramp at a bank should not be more than 20 degrees, but I have not seen a ramp of such a measure. Moreover, there are no railings along the ramps at most of the banks to support a wheelchair. It makes us more prone to accidents and injury instead of offering a convenient access to banking services. In such a scenario, we have to take the help of others,” says Rishikesh. There are 41,000 persons with disabilities in Hisar district alone. Nearly half of them are entitled to pension provided by the state government.

Raj Aryan, a manager at the SBI main branch, says that they have installed a lift in the basement meant for parking for the convenience of physically challenged persons. However, the ATM located at the entrance of the branch still doesn’t have a ramp. “We have just got instructions from the higher authorities and soon proper ramps will be constructed not only at the main branch but also at all ATM kiosks,” he says.

BK Dhingra, lead bank manager of Hisar, says that there are ramps at most of the bank branches and the ATM kiosks, wherever it was feasible to construct. “We have also asked other bank branches to ensure that proper ramps are constructed,” he adds.

No railings along ramps to support wheelchair 

The height of a ramp at a bank should not be more than 20 degrees, but I have not seen a ramp of such a proportion. Moreover, there are no railings along the ramps at most of the banks to support a wheelchair. It makes us more prone to accidents and injury instead of offering a convenient access to banking services. In such a scenario, we have to take the help of others. — Rishikesh, president of District Persons with Disability Association