In a surprising incident that highlights the challenges of poverty in India, an income certificate from Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district has gone viral, sparking outrage and concern among netizens. The document, issued to a family in Ghoghra village, Banda Tehsil, bizarrely stated their annual income as just Rs 2, leaving many questioning how such an error could occur.
The income certificate in question belongs to Balram Chadhar, a 12th-grade student from a family of five. The family, grappling with financial hardship, survives through labor work. Balram had applied for the income certificate in January 2024 to secure a scholarship to continue his education.
Local reporters from Local 18 visited the family to investigate the situation. During the interview, a family member, Tizzu Chadhar, explained that their actual annual income is approximately Rs 40,000, a figure that Balram had reported when applying for the certificate. However, when Balram’s scholarship application was denied, a closer look at the certificate revealed the astonishing mistake—an income of Rs 2 had been listed instead.
According to Balram, the error occurred at the Common Service Centre where the income certificate was generated. Despite the glaring discrepancy, neither the official who prepared the document nor the Tehsildar who signed it caught the mistake.
Balram shared his frustration with reporters, stating that his family’s income was incorrectly reported, leading to confusion and the delay of his scholarship application. The faulty certificate caused quite a stir online, as people wondered how such an oversight could slip through multiple layers of scrutiny.
Following the public outcry and media attention, officials involved in issuing the incorrect certificate were transferred to another block. A corrected income certificate, with the proper amount of Rs 40,000, was issued to the family. The original, flawed certificate was cancelled.
While this particular case brought attention to one family’s plight, it also serves as a reminder of the larger poverty problem in India. According to a report from NITI Aayog, India’s multidimensional poverty rate has significantly decreased, dropping from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23. During this period, an estimated 24.82 crore people moved out of poverty.
This incident from Sagar underscores the continued need for accurate record-keeping and support for those struggling with poverty, as well as the importance of ensuring that such mistakes do not affect access to crucial resources like education.
