India's first 'talking' ATM for visually impaired inaugurated

India's first "talking" Automated Teller Machine (ATM) for visually impaired was today inaugurated in Ahmedabad.

The ATM by the Union Bank of India is the first of its kind for the visually challenged and 4000th in the countrywide network of the state-run bank.

"The foundation stone of Union Bank building in Mumbai had been laid by Mahatma Gandhi. I am happy that the first accessible ATM is being started in the state of Gujarat, janambhumi and karambhumi of Gandhi," Union Bank of India Chairman and Managing Director D Sarkar said after inaugurating the ATM at the Blind People's Association (BPA) here.

According to BPA functionaries, the users have to plug-in a headphone into the ATM which has a unique voice interface and once it is done the machine guides them into further operations. 

The ATM can also be operated by wheelchair-bound persons as well. There are about 20,000 blind persons in Ahmedabad and they can use the ATM which can also be used by general public for transaction, the BPA said.