Declared dead on paper, 70-year-old woman battles for survival as pension stops
By Rohit Gupta
Gurdaspur (Punjab), July 18, 2025: In a heartbreaking case from Gurdaspur, 70-year-old Manjit Kaur, who is very much alive, has been officially “dead” on government records for the past four years.
As a result, her old age pension was stopped six months ago, and to make matters worse, the bank has recovered ₹85,000 from her account — pension money she had been receiving all this time.
Manjit Kaur, a resident of village Wadala Granthiyan, lives a life already burdened by illness and responsibilities.
A heart patient herself, she is the sole caregiver for her two sons — one battling cancer at the age of 48, and the other, mentally ill and physically disabled, aged 42.The family’s only stable support was her monthly pension. Now, with that gone and ₹85,000 withdrawn by the bank, survival has become a daily struggle.
“When I visited the bank, the officials told me I had died four years ago. I was shocked. They said I have to return all the pension I received,” said Manjit Kaur, her voice trembling with emotion.
According to bank officials, the Social Security Department informed them via email that Manjit Kaur had passed away four years ago, and therefore her pension should be discontinued.Acting on this, the bank stopped her pension and recovered the amount already disbursed.
When contacted, Kiranpreet Kaur, an officer from the concerned Social Security Department, acknowledged the error and assured that a thorough investigation will be carried out.
“We have taken note of the matter. The mistake will be rectified, and Manjit Kaur will receive her full pension,” she said.
But for Manjit Kaur and her family, the damage is already done. With no income, mounting medical bills, and two sons who need constant care, she now waits for the system to acknowledge her existence — not just on paper, but as a human being in urgent need of compassion and justice.