Firozabad: In a situation similar to the plot of actor Pankaj Tripathi's film Kaagaz, an elderly man in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, is facing the bureaucratic challenge of proving he is alive after his name was mistakenly removed from the ration card and listed as dead.
The incident came to light at Bojhiya Laxmi Nagar village, located in the Shikohabad area of Firozabad district. Lajja Ram, who is in his 60s, was stunned when he visited the local ration dealer only to be told that his name had been struck off the list due to someone declaring him dead in official records.
Despite being alive and living with his wife in the village, Ram has been unable to access government rations or any other benefits. When the elderly sought clarification, the ration dealer confirmed the error and directed him to the supply department.
He then approached the Shikohabad tehsil where he appealed to the supply inspector to restore his name on the ration card and prove his existence in the official records.
Lajja Ram believes that this mistake occurred due to negligence by the dealer and tehsil employees, and it is now preventing him from receiving vital government services.
In an effort to bring attention to the issue, he shared a video on social media, asking the authorities to rectify the mistake and restore his status as alive in the official documents.
The matter has now been brought to the notice of the SDM of Shikohabad, Ankit Verma, who confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the negligence. He assured that action would be taken against those responsible for the error.
