Change, serving better! RBI explores phone based solution to make cash transaction easy for visually impaired

Mumbai, July 15: Viewing to serve the visually challenged people in identifying currency notes, the Reserve Bank of India on Sunday has decided to come up with a mobile application that would identify the denominations, while cash still remains a dominant mode of transaction.

 

“Identification of banknote denomination is key to successful completion of cash-based transactions by visually impaired persons. At present intaglio printing marks for helping the visually challenged in identification of banknotes denomination are present in the notes of Rs 100 and above”, the RBI said in its statement.

 

 

The proposed mobile app would be able to identify the denomination of notes of Mahatma Gandhi series and Mahatma Gandhi new series by capturing the image of the notes placed in front of mobile camera, it added while inviting bids from tech firms to develop the app.

 

The app will also generate audio notification intimating the currency note denomination to the user if image is captured correctly, else intimating the user to try again in case of image is not readable.

 

"The Reserve Bank of India has been sensitive to the challenges faced by the visually challenged in conducting their day to day business with Indian banknotes”, RBI said further adding that around 80 lakh blind or visually impaired people in the country were likely to benefit from this initiative.

 

In June, 2018 the central bank had declared that it would explore the feasibility of developing a suitable device or mechanism for aiding the visually impaired in the identification of Indian banknotes. At present, banknotes in the denominations of Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 2,000 are in circulation, besides Re 1 notes issued by the Centre.