Puri, Aug. 02 (UDN): Weeks after the launch of the digital hundi facility at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, questions are being raised over the platform’s transparency and security following allegations that a donor did not receive any confirmation after making an online contribution.
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The digital donation system, introduced ahead of this year’s Rath Yatra by the Chief Minister and the Law Minister, was launched to make offerings to Lord Jagannath more accessible for devotees through digital payment platforms. However, concerns over its accountability have now sparked a debate.
Donor claims no acknowledgement after payment
Puri-based Chartered Accountant Sudhanshu Ranjan Pradhan alleged that he donated ₹10,001 through PhonePe using the temple’s digital hundi platform on the occasion of Suna Besha. The donation was made in his father’s name, and while the amount was successfully debited from his bank account, he claimed that neither a digital receipt nor an acknowledgement was issued by the temple administration.
Pradhan said the absence of any confirmation has left him uncertain about whether the contribution was successfully credited to the official account of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
Security concerns highlighted
Raising concerns over the platform’s reliability, Pradhan pointed to past incidents in which fraudulent websites allegedly impersonated the Jagannath Temple to collect donations from unsuspecting devotees.
He argued that such incidents underscore the need for stronger safeguards to ensure that devotees can make digital offerings with confidence.
According to Pradhan, he also attempted to bring the issue to the notice of the Law Minister through Facebook and the Chief Administrator of the SJTA via X, but claimed he had not received any response.
Call for reforms
Seeking improvements to the system, Pradhan has urged the authorities to introduce a comprehensive policy governing digital donations. His recommendations include mandatory issuance of instant digital receipts, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and greater transparency in tracking online contributions.
He has also submitted a 22-point proposal aimed at strengthening the digital hundi platform and making it more accessible to devotees across the world.
Looking beyond Odisha
Pradhan believes the Jagannath Temple has significant potential to expand its digital donation network. He noted that major pilgrimage centres such as Tirupati, Shirdi, Vaishno Devi and Meenakshi Temple receive donations worth crores of rupees every day, whereas the daily hundi collection at the Puri temple is estimated to be around ₹2 lakh.
He said a secure, transparent and user-friendly digital donation system could encourage greater participation from devotees in India and abroad while boosting public confidence in the platform.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has not yet issued a public response to the allegations or the suggestions put forward by the donor.
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