‘I am alive, but my wife is declared a widow’: Fbd man's struggles to prove he is alive for 5 months

Gurgaon: On June 12, 50-year-old Faridabad resident Pawan Kumar and his wife Shyam Wati will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary. But what is marring the celebrations is an odd administrative hurdle Kumar has been trying to resolve since Feb — proving he is not dead.According to Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) database, Shyam Wati is listed as a widow. Kumar discovered the error only after his application for financial aid under Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, for his daughter’s Feb 18 wedding, was rejected.“I am alive and standing right in front of you, but officials are not ready to accept it,” Kumar told TOI. The mistake, made in 2024, has since had him running from office to office, each time being asked for documents to prove his identity.A resident of Mirzapur village and a salesman at a clothing store, Kumar said the ordeal began when his application was stalled without explanation. When he enquired, he found that the error had effectively disqualified his family from receiving benefits under the scheme. Adding to the confusion, his name continues to appear in family records alongside his children’s — a contradictory situation on paper.Kumar has made repeated visits to govt offices and grievance redressal camps, including a Samadhan Shivir at the mini secretariat, but has found little relief. “Instead of correcting the mistake, they keep asking for documents I don’t have,” he said.A key sticking point has been the demand for a marriage certificate from over three decades ago. “My marriage took place in 1995, when registration was not common. Where do I bring proof from now?” he asked. Kumar also alleged that some officials tried to shift blame onto him. “Why would I declare myself dead and then come back to say I am alive?” he said.The district administration said it has initiated steps to resolve the issue. Additional deputy commissioner Anjali Shrotriya acknowledged the discrepancy and explained the procedure for correcting such errors. “The initial data is self-declared by citizens at common service centres or entered by private operators. The individual has stated he was married at a time when such documentation was not commonly maintained, which led to delays. We have now asked for alternative documents to establish the relationship,” she said.Kumar has been asked to submit his children’s educational certificates, voter ID cards, and old ration card records for verification. Officials from the social welfare office confirmed that the family’s application was rejected solely due to this anomaly in the records.“Once these are submitted, a speaking order will be passed and corrections will be initiated. We are assisting proactively, but the required documents are still awaited. We have also suggested that he get a marriage certificate made,” Shrotriya said.