Over 90% Indian finance websites fail accessibility standards
A recent study by BarrierBreak and National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has revealed that a significant number of Indian financial websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Examining 100 leading financial institutions, the report, "Digital Accessibility Landscape of the Finance Sector in India," found that a staggering 91.55% fail to meet basic accessibility standards.
To address this, the report underscores the importance of incorporating accessibility into the product development lifecycle and implementing comprehensive digital accessibility programs.
“Globally, over 15% of the population lives with some form of disability, and in India, millions face barriers that prevent them from independently accessing financial services online. This is not just a design flaw; it is a question of equity and inclusion. Digital platforms must be built to empower everyone, regardless of ability,” said Shilpi Kapoor, Founder and CEO of BarrierBreak.
The report found that the insurance sector was the most affected, with an average of 120.73 accessibility errors per homepage. Common accessibility issues identified included missing or incorrect headings, image description errors, non-descriptive link text, keyboard navigation barriers, and poor colour contrast.
Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, emphasized that accessibility is a fundamental right, and both the government and private players have a responsibility to ensure that digital platforms are inclusive and accessible.
“The staggering inaccessibility of digital financial services is a stark reminder of the barriers people with disabilities face in their everyday lives," said Arman.
The report, launched at the 3rd edition of the Inclusive India: Digital First event on November 22, 2024, underscores the urgency of improving digital accessibility on their homepages.
Despite the growing importance of the digital space in India, especially for the 63.28 million people with disabilities as reported by the NFHS-5 survey, the financial sector still has a long way to go in making online services accessible.
