On Tuesday, Paytm provided the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) with an explanation, stating that as part of a contract with the BKTC in 2018, it installed QR code display boards at the gates of Kedarnath and Badrinath seeking donations from pilgrims.
According to BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaud, there was a formal agreement between the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and Paytm in 2018 for the placement of such boards at the gates of the temples to solicit donations from pilgrims. Since then, Paytm has posted small signs with Quick Response (QR) codes outside of these temples. Through these QR codes, the BKTC has received donations totalling Rs 67 lakh, he said.
The official further added that the confusion got created because Paytm did not take permission before putting up such boards.
Reportedly, Paytm has also apologised for the same to the BKTC chairman, Ajendra Ajay.
BKTC officials, also confirmed that the boards displaying QR Codes seeking donations from the pilgrims were put up outside the gates of Badrinath and Kedarnath without the knowledge of the authorities.
However, the boards were removed by the authorities the day the doors opened for the temples on April 25 and April 27.
The officials confirmed that there were unknown people behind the move. For placing the QR code boards outside the temples, cases under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code were registered against unidentified accused on Monday at Badrinath police station and Kedarnath police outpost, and a probe was ordered, according to Superintendent of Police (Chamoli) Pramendra Dobhal.
The complaints were filed based on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee’s allegation, according to Ajendra Ajay, chairman of the committee.
On the day the temples opened, the QR codes were placed there without the committee’s consent and were taken down as soon as it was made aware of them. According to Ajay, the temple committee does not conduct financial transactions through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) manner.
BKTC confirmed that there was slight confusion, but things are clear now. Paytm provides digital platforms to the temples for seeking donations and with the same QR codes placed out Badrinath and Kedarnath, the committee received donations of Rs 67 lakhs, in 2018.
The expansion of digital payments in India and the availability of a variety of simple and practical digital payment options have made life easier for citizens, encouraged financial inclusion, and boosted business and economic growth. The availability of contactless digital payment options, such as BHIM-UPI, during the Pandemic, facilitated social isolation and the continued existence of enterprises, including small retailers.
Digital payments make it simple for citizens to receive payments in their accounts and to make payments using their phones since they provide anytime, anywhere access to accounts. People who may have been discouraged from using a physical bank outlet for transactions due to the time and transportation costs involved can now easily access their bank accounts digitally and reap the rewards of joining the formal banking system and becoming financially literate. Recently released UPI 123PAY enables users of feature phones to conduct digital transactions via UPI in assisted voice mode, promoting financial inclusion and digital transactions in rural areas.
Earlier cash payments were vulnerable to ‘leakage’ (payments that do not reach the receiver in full) and false beneficiaries, notably in the context of social security benefits through government transfers. Benefits are now being paid using digital payment methods straight to the intended beneficiary’s account.
Most of the time the recipient has to travel considerable distances to receive their payments which are vulnerable to theft. Digital payments across India have made it secure as multiple levels of authentication are required for making transactions.
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