ATMs installed from July must talk, have Braille keypads: RBI
23 May 2014 4:23 AM IST
All new ATMs to be installed by commercial banks from July 2014 onwards would provide audible instructions and Braille keypads to customers, RBI said in its notification on Wednesday.The RBI's directive came on its prior advice to banks in 2009 to make bank branches and ATMs accessible to people with disabilities and make at least one-third of the new ATMs installed as talking ATMs with Braille keypads.‘It is, therefore, reiterated that banks should make all new ATMs installed from 1 July, 2014, as talking ATMs with Braille keypads,’ RBI said.
‘Banks should lay down a road map for converting all existing ATMs as talking ATMs with Braille keypads and the same may be reviewed from time to time,’ it said.
RBI also asked banks to make necessary arrangements to provide all existing ATMs/future ATMs with ramps so that wheel chair users/persons with disabilities can easily access them. ‘Care may also be taken to make arrangements in such a way that the height of the ATMs do not create an impediment in their use by wheelchair users,’ RBI said. However, RBI said this requirement may be dispensed with in cases it is impracticable to provide ramps.
Further, RBI also asked banks to provide the facilities of magnifying glasses at all bank branches for the use of persons
with low vision.The branches should display at a prominent place notice about the availability of magnifying glasses and other facilities available for persons with disabilities, it added.
To ensure compliance of new directives, RBI also asked banks to report the progress made in this regard periodically to their customer service committee. RBI on Wednesday also allowed banks to provide loans with tenures of up to 10 years to exporters to help them ensure capital flows to fulfil long-term contracts.Existing norms allow banks to give loans for up to one year only.
‘In view of requests received from exporters, it has been decided to permit banks to allow exporters having a minimum of three years’ satisfactory track record to receive long-term export advance up to a maximum tenor of 10 years to be utilised for execution of long-term supply contracts for export of goods,’ RBI said in a notification.This facility is available with certain conditions, including an interest rate limit of 200 basis points above the London interbank offered rate (Libor), a global benchmark.
Besides, exporters receiving loans of $100 million or above need to report the transaction immediately to the RBI.As per the conditions, there should be irrevocable supply orders in place.The contract with the overseas party or buyer should be vetted and must clearly specify the nature, amount and delivery time-lines of products over the years and the penalty in case of non-performance or contract
cancellation, it said.
Such export advances can’t be used to liquidate rupee loans, which are classified as non-performing assets as per
RBI norms, it said.
‘Banks should lay down a road map for converting all existing ATMs as talking ATMs with Braille keypads and the same may be reviewed from time to time,’ it said.
RBI also asked banks to make necessary arrangements to provide all existing ATMs/future ATMs with ramps so that wheel chair users/persons with disabilities can easily access them. ‘Care may also be taken to make arrangements in such a way that the height of the ATMs do not create an impediment in their use by wheelchair users,’ RBI said. However, RBI said this requirement may be dispensed with in cases it is impracticable to provide ramps.
Further, RBI also asked banks to provide the facilities of magnifying glasses at all bank branches for the use of persons
with low vision.The branches should display at a prominent place notice about the availability of magnifying glasses and other facilities available for persons with disabilities, it added.
To ensure compliance of new directives, RBI also asked banks to report the progress made in this regard periodically to their customer service committee. RBI on Wednesday also allowed banks to provide loans with tenures of up to 10 years to exporters to help them ensure capital flows to fulfil long-term contracts.Existing norms allow banks to give loans for up to one year only.
‘In view of requests received from exporters, it has been decided to permit banks to allow exporters having a minimum of three years’ satisfactory track record to receive long-term export advance up to a maximum tenor of 10 years to be utilised for execution of long-term supply contracts for export of goods,’ RBI said in a notification.This facility is available with certain conditions, including an interest rate limit of 200 basis points above the London interbank offered rate (Libor), a global benchmark.
Besides, exporters receiving loans of $100 million or above need to report the transaction immediately to the RBI.As per the conditions, there should be irrevocable supply orders in place.The contract with the overseas party or buyer should be vetted and must clearly specify the nature, amount and delivery time-lines of products over the years and the penalty in case of non-performance or contract
cancellation, it said.
Such export advances can’t be used to liquidate rupee loans, which are classified as non-performing assets as per
RBI norms, it said.
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