Together against COVID-19: Here’s how lockdown is shaping digital payments and how we are supporting our nation

As our country adapts to the new world of social distancing, masks & gloves, we have been doing our bit to ensure that our fellow citizens can make all essential payments from the safe confines of their home.

Our team worked dedicatedly to revamp the Paytm app UI with a ‘Stay at home Essential payments’ section to include Mobile & DTH Recharge, electricity, water, gas, credit card & insurance premium payment among others.

Here is a quick snapshot of how India is embracing digital payments and making it part of their lives and a lifelong habit.

During this lockdown period, people have been making digital payments at their local kirana stores, dairy & pharmacies with their Paytm app. The per transaction volume has also gone up.

We have been working to educate & inform fellow citizens about COVID-19, and have introduced an ‘Information and Help Center’ under the #IndiaFightsCorona section on our app. This section also has a COVID-19 self-assessment scanning tool, which helps people to understand if someone is potentially at risk of suffering from the virus.

Continuing our efforts to fight misinformation, we are also providing free access to dozens of national & regional newspapers on our app.

Our efforts to combat COVID-19 started soon after the pandemic hit our country. When the government launched the PM-CARES fund to collect contribution for its COVID-19 efforts, we joined the noble cause by aiming to raise Rs. 500 crore with the support of our users.

Also under ‘Feed My City’ initiative, we are providing meals to daily wage earners in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Noida. We requested fellow citizens to support us by donating for any of these initiatives by logging on to their Paytm app. We are overwhelmed with the response that we have received so far.

Paytm’s COVID-19 initiative timeline