The Centre must direct all banks to take steps to ensure that non-literate account holders are provided with ATM services on application, BJP Member of Parliament Bandaru Dattatraya has said.

This must form part of the financial inclusion mission — Sampoorn Vittiyea Samaveshan — to be launched on Friday, Dattatraya said in a letter to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Currently, most banks do not issue ATM cards to non-literate customers/account holders owing to their inability to meet the technical pre-requisite of signing on the reverse of the ATM card.

By not issuing ATM cards and providing related services to non-literate account holders, the entire economics of viably locating ATMs in rural India has also been distorted, Dattatraya, who represents Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, has said.

Issue of ATM cards to non-literate account holders would be in tune with the spirit of Sampoorn Vittiyea Samaveshan, the letter added.

>srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in