Bhubaneswar: In an effort to modernize religious donations and offer convenience to devotees, the Odisha government is preparing to roll out a ‘digital hundi’ system at the iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri. This new platform—tentatively named Samarpan—will allow devotees to contribute securely and transparently from anywhere in the world, officials confirmed.
A senior government representative told TOI that the initiative aims to streamline online donations, ensuring ease of access and bolstering financial transparency. The Electronics and IT Department, along with the Law Department, has been entrusted with finalizing the system’s legal and technical architecture. Enhanced security protocols will be in place to protect both the sanctity of the process and donor data.
Over the last three financial years, the temple has received Rs 113.02 crore in total donations. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, in a written statement to the Assembly on December 7, 2024, noted that the temple collected Rs 40.61 crore via donation boxes, Rs 59.79 crore through bank channels, and Rs 12.60 crore from other sources.
The highest recorded donation was Rs 50.80 crore in 2022–23, followed by Rs 44.90 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 17.31 crore in 2021–22.
While the SJTA had previously teamed up with a UPI platform for donations, plans to install QR code scanners at public spots like hotels and railway stations were scrapped due to concerns over cybersecurity and potential fraud.
Temple authorities have also warned devotees against fake websites offering online puja and darshan for a fee, after discovering scams charging $60–80 USD. A police complaint has been filed at Singhadwar station regarding one such fraudulent site.
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