Living in India, we're all aware of how the prevalence of beggars can be found in every nook and corner of every city. While the rest of the world is moving forward, these underprivileged beings aren't aware of new technology, cashless transactions or anything that doesn't require physical notes. Or so we think?
A 40-year-old beggar from Bihar has now gone digital and is accepting digital payments. He asks for alms at Bettiah Railway Station gives people options to pay him via digital mode with a QR code placard around his neck and a digital tablet.
The new-age beggar named Raju Patel?calls himself a follower of the former state chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and attended his programs. He apparently is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India Campaign.?
Speaking to ANI, Raju Patel said, ¡°I accept digital payments, and it¡¯s enough to get the work done and fill my stomach. I have been begging here since my childhood but I have changed the way of begging in this digital age.¡±
¡°After begging, I sleep at the station itself. I could not find any other way of livelihood. Many times, people refused to give alms saying that they did not have cash in smaller denominations. Many travellers said that in the era of e-wallets like pay-phones etc., there is no need to carry cash anymore. Due to this, I opened a bank account, and an e-wallet,¡± he added.
People on the internet couldn't help but this new-age begging quite funny. One user commented, "This is not the idea of India I grew up in." Another one commented, "Imagine, receiving a Cashback after paying him." Someone else said, "It's both good and bad. Good that digitisation has reached the masses. Bad that govt is not doing enough to reduce beggary, giving jobs and these people themselves feel content with begging and not doing something for themselves to get out of it and brighten their future."
Patel carries his e-wallet everywhere he goes but says that people still pay him in cash.?However, some people also transfer money to his e-wallet.
To open the bank account, the bank wanted his Aadhar card and his?PAN card. So, he ended up getting a PAN card to set up his bank account via which he can get his e-money.?Mr Patel opened an account in the main branch of the State Bank of India in Bettiah and got an e-wallet made. Currently, he begs digitally around Bettiah railway station.
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