What happened: On Feb 8, ANI reported that with a QR code sign around his neck and a smart tablet, Raju Patel, a 40 year-old beggar from Bihar, India, asks for alms at Bettiah Railway Station which allows people to pay him digitally. Back story: Sharing his story with the publication, Patel says that after begging, he sleeps at the station only, “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,” Patel stated the reason behind opening a bank account and an e-wallet. Details: According to Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India Campaign inspired him to become a ‘digital beggar’ as he claims to be a follower of former state chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and has also attended his events. The digital beggar stated that he listens to PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme on a regular basis, “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.” PAN card: Patel further explained that the bank required his Aadhaar and PAN card in order to open an account at the State Bank of India’s Bettiah main branch, so he obtained a PAN to get things started and got an e-wallet.