#IWontBlink: Denied Bank Account, Acid Attack Survivor Seeks Justice

An acid attack surovivor was recently denied of a bank account when a KYC machine could not scan her complete biometric details because of her inability to blink.

Taking to Twitter, Pragya Prasun shared her ordeal and urged the people to make this world an 'inclusive' place for acid attack survivors too.

"Being an acid attack survivor should not prohibit me from living a life with dignity. It's unjust that I was denied a bank acct just because I can't blink for the KYC process. Requesting Meer Foundation to help me make this world inclusive for all acid attack survivors #iwontblink", she tweeted.

Pragya has also started an online petition highlighting the plight of acid attack survivors like her, who are denied access to important services such as opening a bank account just because the facial recognition software has its limitations.

"I was recently denied the opportunity to open a new bank account with ICICI Bank due to a new requirement for a video or live photo of the account holder blinking their eye. As a survivor of an acid attack, I am unable to blink my one eye, which has resulted in my inability to access this service from ICICI bank," she claimed.

"I understand that this new rule has been put in place to streamline the account opening process and make it easier for customers. However, for those of us who cannot blink our eyes, this rule is an insurmountable obstacle that prevents us from accessing basic financial services," she said.

"It is unfair and unjust that individuals like myself, who have already faced so many challenges, are being denied the right to open a bank account simply because of our physical condition. By denying us access to these essential services, they are essentially questioning our dignity and worth as human beings," she added.

She also urged Sandeep Bakhshi, CEO, ICICI Bank, to reconsider this policy and provide easy and swift alternative methods for individuals who cannot blink their eyes to open a bank account.

"I also implore them to restore the physical application process to accommodate individuals with disabilities, as online-only options may not always be suitable for everyone," she added.