Agra: Withdrawing money from an ATM may seem like the easiest thing to do. Not if you are disabled. For 23-year-old Virendar, who is suffering from partial paralysis, and scores of other people like him, withdrawing money from an ATM is a challenge which they don't wish to face daily, as there are no ramps available at ATM booths in Agra.
There are 476 ATM booths in Agra, of which 386 are of public sector banks and 90 are private, while 26 are cash deposit machines. But not a single bank has given a second thought about providing a mere ramp for those who can't walk easily up or down stairs.
Mahima Chaudhary, a 27-year-old chartered accountant who lost both her legs in an accident said, "I never go to the ATM, it's either my husband or brother who withdraws cash for me. When I am in Chennai or Delhi at my relatives', I prefer to make withdrawals myself."
According to lead district manager of all banks in Agra, Pankaj Saxena,"We know there are no ramps at any ATM booths across Agra, but I don't believe that banks are ready to invest in building them, as there are not many specially challenged customers. However, as per RBI guidelines, most banks have installed audible instructions and Braille keypad-enabled ATMs to make them accessible to people with disabilities."
Chandra Prakash Pal, assistant professor and head of orthopedics department in SN Medical College said, "In the absence of ramps or proper support, physically challenged people or those who have fractured legs and need crutches or wheelchair to move will suffer acute pain if they have to walk upstairs to withdraw cash from ATMs, which are installed at a height. It is as if you are putting the weight of another person on their shoulders by making them walk up or down stairs. The authorities concerned should provide such basic infrastructure at every possible place, apart from ATM booths."
Speaking anonymously, a senior official of the district disabled welfare department told TOI that, considering the difficulties faced by specially challenged people, the directorate of disabled welfare has asked all the districts across the state to send proposals about solutions and requirements they need to develop infrastructure in public offices and departments, so as to reduce the burden and make access to such places by specially challenged people easy.
