I AM ALIVE, DON’T KILL ME ON PAPER

I AM ALIVE, DON’T KILL ME ON PAPER

17-JULY-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------Dhoda Ram, an 82-year-old resident of Bihar's Bhojpur district, had his old-age pension stopped after being declared dead in government records. For the past three months, he has been making rounds of government offices to prove he is alive. Following the exposure of the matter, the administration has initiated an inquiry and issued a notice to the concerned 'Vikas Mitra' (development facilitator). Officials have assured that the error will be rectified and Dhoda Ram's pension will be resumed soon.

Imagine being fully alive, breathing, and living in your village... yet government documents declare, "You are dead." It might sound like a movie plot, but this has become the stark reality for 82-year-old Dhoda Ram from Pirauta village in the Ara block of Bhojpur. At this stage of life, when one needs two square meals and a bit of dignity, Dhoda Ram has spent the last three months making rounds of banks and government offices, leaning on his walking stick—all just to get the system to acknowledge that he is still alive.

About 20 years ago, he suffered a broken leg while working as a laborer. A metal rod had to be inserted, and he was forced to give up manual labor from that point on.

The old-age pension was the sole means of support for him and his wife. However, the pension suddenly stopped. Upon visiting the bank, he discovered that while the funds had indeed been deposited into his account, they could not be withdrawn because he had been declared dead in government records.

When he obtained the documents online, they stated: "Beneficiary found dead during verification." Reading this brought tears to Dhoda Ram's eyes. His only question was, "When I am standing right here in front of you... how am I dead on paper?"

Three married daughters, no sons: Dhoda Ram has no sons. His three daughters are married and, despite their own financial struggles, take turns visiting the village to support their parents. A leaking hut during the rains, nights spent on a makeshift bamboo cot, and meals cooked with great difficulty on a simple hearth—this is his world. Now, with the stoppage of his pension, even securing two square meals a day has become a crisis.

The most distressing aspect is that at several offices, he was told, "First, bring proof that you are alive." In other words, an elderly man who can barely stand on his own two feet is being forced to provide evidence of his very breath. Villagers brought the matter to the District Magistrate's office, prompting the administration to take action.

Ravi Ranjan Kumar, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Ara Sadar, stated that necessary action was initiated as soon as the matter came to light. A preliminary inquiry revealed that the error occurred during verification at the panchayat level. A show-cause notice has been issued to the concerned 'Vikas Mitra' (development facilitator), and action will be taken against them. Meanwhile, Dhoda Ram's application has been forwarded for processing, and his old-age pension is expected to resume soon.

While there is hope that Dhoda Ram will receive his pension again, this case raises a significant question: Is the identity of a poor, elderly person confined merely to government files? If a clerical error can render a living human being "dead," who ultimately pays the price for such a mistake? After all, Dhoda Ram seeks more than just a pension—he seeks the dignity of being recognized as alive.