The branch offices of NIC Asia Bank and Machhapuchhre Bank in Itahari are on the first floor.
ITAHARI: Tripta Magar, the founding president of the Nepali Women and Girls Disabled Society, has been conducting her banking transactions at the Itahari branch of Nepal Bank Ltd (NBL) for over a decade. She says she faces difficulties while availing banking services as bank branches are not disability-friendly.
Many banks have opened branch offices in Itahari and other cities of Koshi Province over the past decade. These banks have set up offices in modern buildings, but none of them are accessible.
“Most of the bank branches are on the first floor. Although NBL’s branch office in Itahari is on the ground floor, stairs make it difficult for us,” Magar said. “It is difficult for me as branch offices of Agricultural Development Bank Ltd and Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd are on the first floor.”
Magar, a wheelchair user, said people like her are facing problems as banks are not disability-friendly. “It would have been easier for us had bank branches been disability-friendly,” she said. “Elderly and disabled people, who need to visit banks to collect social security allowances, are facing challenges due to a lack of disability-friendly infrastructure.”
Ramananda Khatwe of Khanar, who teaches at Sharada Secondary School in Itahari-12, has also faced challenges while conducting banking transactions. “Banks don’t even treat us like human beings. The extent of our suffering is immeasurable,” Khatwe said. “Although all banks claim that they are disability-friendly, it has not been implemented in practice.”
Khatwe, who is visually impaired, said the use of derogatory terms like ‘blind’ leaves him humiliated. “I have been denied loans even after pledging collateral,” he added.
Khatwe, who previously banked with Global IME Bank, is facing a similar ordeal with Machhapuchchhre Bank Ltd as well.
“Availing bank loans is difficult even after pledging collateral, showing income sources and completing all procedures,” he said. “I reached over half a dozen banks like Sanima, Nepal Investment Mega, and Kamana Sewa, but the treatment remained the same.”
Khatwe said the lower-level employees often use derogatory language which hurts his self-respect. “As soon as they see me as visually impaired, they directly say there are no facilities for disabled and blind people. At least, they could speak politely,” he added.
As many as 26 banks have opened branch offices in the Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City area. However, none of them are disability-friendly. According to the Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, there are 1,452 differently-abled individuals across all 20 wards of the sub-metropolis. They have been using the services of different banks and financial institutions.
While Itahari serves as a representative example of a major city, banks and financial institutions in other major cities of Koshi Province, such as Biratnagar, Dharan, Birtamod, and Damak, are also not disability-friendly. The situation is even more challenging in the hilly districts, according to the affected individuals.
Nepal Rastra Bank’s Unified Directive has outlined provisions regarding how banks should treat individuals with disabilities. According to the directive, banks and financial institutions with more than five branches in a local area must make at least one branch disability-friendly. However, this directive has not been implemented.
The Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2017, also includes provisions that require banks and financial institutions to provide accessible and non-discriminatory services to individuals with disabilities. The Act, however, lacks mandatory provisions to ensure easy access for individuals with disabilities.
A manager of a bank branch in Koshi Province said the building to set up branch offices is selected by the central office. “We set up the office as per the structure of the house that we rent,” he added.
