As Temple Donations Dip, Managements Initiate Steps To Go Cashless

Even as the political battle over demonetisation rages on and hardships of the poor and non banking citizens start pouring in from far flung interiors of India, the luckier and the net friendly populace marches on. With demonetisation resulting in a drop in temple donations, some of the famous cash rich temples in Gujarat have initiated steps and started introducing e-wallets, ATMs with deposit facility and swipe machines to accept cashless donations.

Dhanraj Nathwani, vice president of Dwarka Mandir Vyasthapan Samiti, told PTI over phone, “I have taken up this issue to help devotees make donations without crumbling under the impact of demonetisation.”

“Lakhs of people visit Dwarka and feel gratified and contended with the blessings of Lord Dwarkadhish,” he said.

To popularise cashless transactions among people, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had on Tuesday inaugurated the digital temple donations system at the famous Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district to accept donations through debit or credit card using swipe machines.

He made a donation of Rs 31,000 using his wife’s debit card.

Sources in the Ambaji temple trust said after demonetisation, donations have come down by at least 30 per cent. With the new cashless facility, the donations are again likely to go up, they said.

Somnath temple trust secretary Pravinbhai Laheri said they are now in talks with a digital wallet company to accept funds and donations digitally.

The trust has also begun accepting e-payment for the ‘prasad’ (food offered to gods) at the temple located in Gir Somnath district.

Ravindra Upadhyay, manager of the famous Ranchhodraiji temple, located at Dakor in Kheda district, about 50 km from Vadodara, said they have initiated the process of introducing e-wallets, swipe machines and ATMs as they witnessed the donations going down by about 20 per cent after November 8.