Demand from Various Quarters for Installation of an ATM Near Mangala Temple
Kakatpur | 06/09/2024
Report by: Tushar Dixit
Thousands of devotees from within and outside the state visit the revered shrine of Goddess Mangala in Kakatpur every day. Despite the heavy footfall, there is still no ATM facility available near the temple — neither from any nationalized bank nor from private banks — creating a major inconvenience for the visitors in terms of basic financial services.
At a time when the Government of India is promoting the “Digital India” initiative, the absence of an ATM near one of Odisha’s prominent Shakti Peethas has drawn criticism from local intellectuals. Years ago, officials from the State Bank had come and even installed a nameplate for the proposed ATM, but nothing has materialized since then. The nameplate still remains, but the ATM has never become functional.
Despite large amounts of money being deposited in banks from temple-related earnings such as donations (hundis), lamp offerings, food offerings, and parking auctions, devotees visiting the temple continue to struggle with cash transactions due to the unavailability of ATMs. Although UCO Bank had earlier installed a PhonePe scanner at the temple’s eastern gate, it too became defunct due to lack of maintenance.
Given the circumstances, senior servitors of Goddess Mangala — Ashok Kumar Dixit, Pradeepta Kumar Dixit, Manoranjan Panda, Tushar Ranjan Dixit, and Kamal Lochan Dixit — have strongly demanded the immediate establishment of an ATM near the temple to address this long-standing issue.
