A Bengaluru software engineer who contributed ₹30 lakh in income tax over five years says he received no assistance after losing his job and slipping into depression.
His situation, shared by Delhi-based professional Ayush J in a widely circulated LinkedIn post, has resonated with many salaried employees who believe they are penalised for their honesty.
Ayush described the techie’s experience as evidence of a deeper issue: unlike nations such as the United States, where taxpayers benefit from unemployment insurance and social security, India offers virtually no safety net.
He pointed out that while free electricity, water, subsidised rations, and complimentary bus travel are distributed, these schemes seldom benefit the middle class that dutifully pays taxes.
In contrast, many self-employed individuals and freelancers openly admit to evading taxes without consequence.
Ayush observed that salaried professionals endure automatic tax deductions at source and still face indifference when crises strike.
“There is no special treatment, no relief during job losses, and no appreciation. Only endless paperwork, deductions, and silence,” he wrote.
The engineer’s decline into depression, despite years of contributions, has sparked renewed debate about fairness, transparency, and the failure to protect those who sustain public finances.
“It feels as though we are punished simply for earning decently and abiding by the law,” Ayush concluded.
His account has revived urgent questions about India’s tax policies and the glaring lack of support for honest taxpayers.