Paytm CEO to donate Yash Bharti award money to school

Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, 43, who is among the 54 Yash Bharti awardees announced by the state government for 2016-17, has said he will donate `11 lakh award money to his alma mater – Agrasen Inter College in Harduaganj (Aligarh) and give his pension to his parents.

Vijay’s family is settled in Naurangabad (Aligarh). His father Sulom Prakash was a teacher in Harduaganj Inter College here while Vijay also received his early education in Harduaganj (Aligarh).

At the age of 16, Vijay appeared for B Tech admission at Delhi University. At that time candidates below 17 were not given admission, but DU vice-chancellor exempted him and he completed B Tech at 20. He was selected by an American company InterSolution on an annual package of `15 lakh. Vijay Shekhar returned to India and launched a firm ‘97 Communication Company’ for mobile services.

Though the company had decided to bring its IPO in 2010, it could not do so. However, 2010 was the turning point in Vijay Shekhar’s life when he launched another firm ‘Paytm’.

His father Sulom Prakash Sharma said: “By honouring a young engineer with the prestigious Yash Bharti Award, the UP government has proved that such awards are not only meant for political personalities.” He further said, “Though Vijay was educated in a rural area, he has succeeded in having a global identity. The call centre project in Aligarh is in progress and soon a large number of jobs will be available to Aligarh youths.”

Vijay Shekhar told HT on phone: “I will donate `11 lakh award money to Agrasen Inter College in Harduaganj for completion of an under-construction hall and give the pension to my parents.”