It is useless to write to RBI. There is a draconian rule with regard to opening of S.B. A/c. RBI has mandated every bank that if any person wants to open a new S. B. A/c with any Bank, he has to produce identity proof and residence proof. Identity proof can be fulfilled by producing identitiy card issued by Election Commission of India.
But it is the residence proof that stumped me. For residence proof one has to produce either PAN card or Electricity bill or telephone bill. You may also notice that ration card is not accepted.
Think of a rural household woman. Invariably in almost all rural houses, electricity connection, telephone connection will be standing in the name of husband, who is the head of the family. No one will be having PAN card or any other nonsense cards other than identity card issued by election commission. I suspect even in town also electricity connection and telephone connection will in the name of head of family, which means husband/father. Unless one produces acceptable residence proof, i.e. one of the three documents mentioned above, account cannot be and will not be opened. I protested this illogical rule and sent a complaint to RBI explaining that by their rules they are excluding a major portion of rural women from banking system. I also explained them that other than those educated, employed town dwellers, even rural people also need banking services and it is unfair to exclude them by making these types of impracticable rules. Opening a S. B. A/c with minimum balance is the most basic step a person takes in joining banking system. Even today also I have not been able to understand how these types of strange rules can be formed so as to exclude people from banking system.
But sadly no one is bothered to hear even genuine complaints. What to do?
But it is the residence proof that stumped me. For residence proof one has to produce either PAN card or Electricity bill or telephone bill. You may also notice that ration card is not accepted.
Think of a rural household woman. Invariably in almost all rural houses, electricity connection, telephone connection will be standing in the name of husband, who is the head of the family. No one will be having PAN card or any other nonsense cards other than identity card issued by election commission. I suspect even in town also electricity connection and telephone connection will in the name of head of family, which means husband/father. Unless one produces acceptable residence proof, i.e. one of the three documents mentioned above, account cannot be and will not be opened. I protested this illogical rule and sent a complaint to RBI explaining that by their rules they are excluding a major portion of rural women from banking system. I also explained them that other than those educated, employed town dwellers, even rural people also need banking services and it is unfair to exclude them by making these types of impracticable rules. Opening a S. B. A/c with minimum balance is the most basic step a person takes in joining banking system. Even today also I have not been able to understand how these types of strange rules can be formed so as to exclude people from banking system.
But sadly no one is bothered to hear even genuine complaints. What to do?
