Dead on Paper: Haryana Man Fights 5-Year Battle to Prove He's Alive

Lal Chand's troubles began four years ago when during a routine bank visit, the bank officials revealed that he was officially "dead" in government records since November 18, 2019. Despite submitting multiple affidavits and proof of life like appearing in person in multiple government offices, the 54-year-old widower continues to face this surreal situation.

The Pension Paradox

The irony of this situation became more apparent when the Social Welfare Department approved and released his widower pension in July 2024, acknowledging his status as a widower since his wife Savitri Devi 's death in 1996. The payment was stopped soon because the same department 's records showed him dead since 2019. 

The case highlights serious flaws in the digital governance system. Lal Chand managed to get his Family ID corrected in 2022 after submitting multiple affidavits but the department 's official website still shows him dead which created problems for him in accessing benefits of various government schemes. He has provided multiple proofs of life which were ignored by authorities. Each visit to government office ends with officials redirecting him to another department as there is no clear process to correct such errors. 

Impact on the Individual 

Lal Chand stated that he has become a subject of ridicule in his village. Along with social hardship, he faces significanty financial hardship because of the stoppage of his pension due to this clerical error.

Despite approaching the Deputy Commissioner for intervention, resolution remains elusive. When contacted, the block CRID officer Ravinder Kumar was unavailable for comment, highlighting the communication gaps that often exacerbate such situations.