Visitors to Ayodhya will be rewarded with five rupees if they return the empty water bottle- viral claim is misleading

This is a project to control plastic through deposit refund scheme as part of the Ram Bhoomi Swachh Bhoomi campaign being implemented in Ayodhya. 

Following the consecration ceremony, the number of visitors to the Ayodhya Ram Temple has increased significantly. Many videos and images about the temple are still viral on social media. One such post claiming that the visitors receive Rs. 5 for returning an empty water bottle in Ayodhya is going viral on social media. The image along with the post shows a person holding a Bisleri water bottle, and we also see a QR code on it. 

The caption of the post states, “What an initiative taken in Ayodhya, you get 5 rupees for returning empty water bottle”

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Fact Check-

Using keyword search, we found a post shared by Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner Vishal Singh on his Twitter page on 7 February 2024. The caption states, “Excited to announce Rambhoomi Swachh Bhoomi, our latest effort to keep #Ayodhya pristine in the wake of the historic Ram Mandir inauguration, We’re introducing a Deposit Refund System (DRS) to manage plastic waste effectively.”

He further mentions”Saryu Ghat and Ram Mandir areas now have strict rules about plastic use. All plastic items must have a QR code. Pay an extra 5 rupee deposit, and you’ll get it back when you recycle at any Kabadiwala center.”Over 30 refund centers are opening, offering jobs to over 100 locals, including many waste workers.

The Municipal Corporation is carrying out such a project in collaboration with The Kabadiwala, a waste management company. The deposit amount can be refunded if you return the plastic item within the temple with a QR code and show it at the stall. 

In addition, a news report about the collection and recycling of dry garbage by The Kabadiwala in Ayodhya can be seen below.

In further search, we found a post was on the official website of waste management company, The Kabadiwala on 10 February. It states that “In Ayodhya, if you return the empty bottle at the refund center you will get ₹5 deposit back. This is an initiative by @TheKabadiwala along with the Nagar Nigam Ayodhya to keep Ayodhya Clean. They named this drive #RamBhoomiSwachhBhoomi

From these evidences it is clear that this is a project to control plastic through deposit refund scheme as part of the Ram Bhoomi Swachh Bhoomi campaign being implemented in Ayodhya. 

Conclusion-

Fact Crescendo found that the claim made along with the post to be Misleading. This project is part of the Rambhoomi Swachh Bhoomi campaign to make the temple plastic free. The plan is to deposit five rupees in advance and return the QR-coded bottles after the visit. Then the deposited amount will be refunded upon return.