Qualified for the job, but too blind for a bank account?

Twenty-seven-year-old Shrikant Pandey resides with his family in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. His father runs a cosmetics shop and his brother operates a mobile store, both small businesses taking care of the family’s needs. 

Born blind, Shrikant studied in a mainstream school up till Class 5. But like any other blind student, the lack of accessible teaching method and study material made it very hard for Shrikant to acquire any knowledge studying alongside sighted kids. He couldn’t make it to Class 6 and was asked to shift to a special school in Jagdalpur. Here, Shrikant studied till Class 12, learning to read and write in Braille, as well as acquire some skills for daily living and mobility. He went to complete his graduation and post-graduation in Hindi from Jagdalpur Government College. 

With a view to enhance his employment potential, Shrikant completed his Special B.Ed. and cleared the Junior Research Fellowship exam. He didn’t stop at that. He also prepared and cleared the competitive exam becoming eligible for a government job in IDBI bank. However, his professional success was immediately challenged when the bank refused to process his salary account, citing his blindness and demanding a sighted witness to co-sign the account. 

When Shrikant reached out to Eyeway, our Helpdesk Counsellor shared the Reserve Bank of India guidelines and the banking circular which clearly state that no one can be denied any financial services on grounds of blindness. Shrikant approached the Bank Manager with the documents and convinced him to resolve the issue. 

So far, Shrikant was focused on his ability, working hard to become self-reliant. But after achieving so many milestones through sheer grit, the society’s limited imagination stared him in the face. The bank denying him an independent account, shows how little is known about living life with blindness, the potential of persons with vision impairment and the tools and technology that exist for their aid.

Should someone who secured a job based on his merit, be handed out second-rate treatment only because he is blind?

Team Eyeway