New Delhi, Aug 22: Making banking, insurance, pensions and other financial services easier to access for persons with disabilities was at the centre of a workshop that brought together senior officials from across India’s financial sector.
Chief Technology Officers and senior human resources officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), along with representatives of 12 public sector banks, seven public sector insurance companies and seven public sector financial institutions, took part in the discussions.
The workshop focused on a simple but important question: how can financial institutions make their services more accessible in everyday situations and ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind?
A sensitisation session under the Sugamya Bharat initiative introduced participants to accessibility standards and compliance requirements. This was followed by a detailed discussion on the legal provisions governing accessibility and the challenges institutions encounter while putting these requirements into practice.
Participants spoke about the difference between what regulations require and what is sometimes possible on the ground. They exchanged ideas and best practices on improving accessibility across technology, workplaces and customer-facing services.
The discussion was also shaped by the experiences of accessibility experts and employees with disabilities, who shared practical insights into the barriers people can encounter while using financial services. Their perspectives brought a real-world dimension to the conversation and highlighted areas where institutions can make meaningful improvements.
An interactive question-and-answer session at the end of the workshop allowed officials to raise operational concerns and explore practical steps that could strengthen accessibility across their organisations.
The workshop underlined that financial inclusion is not only about providing services but also about making sure people can use those services independently and with dignity. The discussions reaffirmed the government’s focus on building a financial system where accessibility and inclusion are part of everyday institutional practices.