A heartbreaking video from Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district has sparked outrage after a woman in her late 50s was seen carrying her 90-year-old mother-in-law on her shoulders to secure a monthly pension of just Rs 500.
The two women reportedly walked several kilometres under scorching heat to reach a bank branch after the elderly woman’s pension had been stopped for four months due to incomplete KYC formalities.
Video highlights harsh reality
The incident took place in Jangalpara village in the Kunia area, where Sukhmaniya carried her aged mother-in-law to the Central Bank of India branch in Mainpat town.
A passerby recorded the emotional moment, and the video quickly spread on social media, drawing criticism over the difficulties faced by elderly citizens in accessing welfare benefits.
Sukhmaniya reportedly said that a Bank Mitra earlier delivered the pension amount to their home, but the service was stopped after KYC verification remained incomplete.
Pension released after KYC completion
Mainpat Janpad Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Khushboo Shastri confirmed that the pension had been suspended due to pending documentation.
According to officials, the bank completed the KYC formalities after the women reached the branch, following which the pending pension amount of Rs 2,000 was released immediately.
Authorities also assured that the pension would once again be delivered to the elderly woman’s home from next month onwards.
Political criticism follows viral video
The incident triggered criticism from opposition leaders and social activists, who questioned why elderly and vulnerable citizens were forced to undergo such hardship for basic welfare support.
Former Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo said governments and officials must ensure doorstep delivery of pensions, especially for senior citizens unable to travel long distances.
The viral incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by rural families in accessing essential government services