2016-08-25 Thu

National Association for Blind files a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court to help blind persons identify notes and coins of different denominations.

Officials have stated that the earlier coins came with unique marks; some were raised/embossed and tactile differentiation was also offered. The complaint is that new coins of various denominations and notes of Rs 100 and Rs 500 have no different identification marks. The NAB officials had requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make changes in the coins and notes. The RBI had sent a request in a written form and asked NAB to give a feedback on the new shapes of coins and notes.

A detailed suggestion about the shape of the coins and notes along with their broadness, thickness, and colour combination has been sent to the RBI as well. They also pointed out that there only minute differences between the notes of Rs 100 and Rs 500; or the Rs 2, Re 1 and 50 paise coins. The NAB has suggested that coins should have proper borders, different designs, shapes, different textures for identification. NAB officials have stated that even after the feedback was given to the RBI last year, note measures have been taken yet. The NAB is facing difficulties in making its students identify the differences in the new coins and notes.

They are now seeking information from the RBI on what steps have been taken to resolve this issue.