Payments for Disaster Relief
The Kerala, Kodagu (Karnataka) and Nagaland were recently hit with floods prompting respective Chief Minister Disaster Relief Fund to seek out donations to help rescue, rehabilitation efforts carried out by the state. Payment apps have also advertised options to donate from their apps including sending push notifications.
Kerala CMDRF — https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/
The online donation site set up by the Kerala CMDRF, developed by CDIT, Kerala allows one to make payments through cards, internet banking, wallets, UPI, international cards through multiple gateways, processors besides traditional fund transfer mechanism of direct fund transfers from banking channel to the bank account using NEFT, RTGS, SWIFT.
The site also has a transparency page which lists allocations made from CMDRF and a statistics page which lists collections through various payment modes. It is to be noted that payment charges are listed as Nil by most processors listed in the site. Receipt generation is also made available for people wanting to a receipt for their payment across modes to avail tax exemptions.
Nagaland CMDRF — https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/
The online donation site run by AirPay, for Nagaland CMDRF allows payments through credit/debit cards, internet banking, wallets besides transferring by NEFT / RTGS to account number mentioned. Receipts are generated. Payments are not charged.
Karnataka CMDRF (Kodagu Floods) — Account number published.
The Karnataka CMDRF accepting aid for Kodagu floods did not have a website set up but managed to raise 46 Crores, including 9 crores from wallet/internet banking channels.
Observations
- The ability to raise funding quickly from people across the country, the world gives the state administration much needed ad-hoc support in carrying relief operations, even as the grants/relief packages take a while pending assessments.
- Although payment processors have largely waived off transaction charges, it is important to have a clear 0 rating regulation for these emergency payment transactions.
- Mobile payments (UPI / QR) accounted for 4% in value and electronic payments (cards / net banking) accounted 15% in value.
- Both the Kerala and Nagaland donation sites did not have a privacy policy in place but have also collected mobile number, email address. While Kerala has them optional, its mandatory for Nagaland (carried out by third party).
- It is important for states to digitize their disaster relief funds, expand payment modes to be as inclusive as possible, provide multiple gateway options, automate digital receipts have increased transparency on utilisation while protecting the privacy of donors. They must also proactively set up this setting one hurriedly after a disaster.
