Chhattisgarh Woman Carries 90-Year-Old Mother-In-Law On Her Back To Collect Pension, Viral Video Triggers Outrage

A painful video from Chhattisgarh has sparked widespread discussion online after showing a woman carrying her 90-year-old mother-in-law on her back through forests and rocky paths to collect pension money from a bank. The video was reported from the Mainpat region in Surguja district and has drawn attention to the daily struggles faced by people living in remote rural and tribal areas.

मैनपाट के कुनिया जंगलपारा की ये तस्वीर कई सवाल छोड़ जाती है।90 वर्षीय बुजुर्ग महिला को हर महीने बैंक तक पहुंचाने के लिए बहू को 9 किलोमीटर तक पीठ पर उठाकर ले जाना पड़ता है।जहां एक ओर बहू अपने फर्ज और ममता की मिसाल पेश कर रही है, वहीं दूसरी ओर सिस्टम की लाचारी और जमीनी हकीकत साफ... twitter/NjCgxWinfU

- Kamlesh Kumar (@KamleshKDiwan) May 23, 2026

According to local residents, the woman, identified as Sukhmania Bai, walked nearly 9 kilometres carrying the elderly woman because there was no proper transport available in the area, reported India Today.

The visuals show her moving through rough forest paths, stones and streams under the hot sun while carrying the elderly woman on her back.

Pension linked to physical verification

Residents said the elderly woman had to be physically present at the bank for fingerprint or identity verification before the pension amount could be released.

Locals claimed that because of these rules, Sukhmania Bai has been making similar difficult journeys for several months. During the video, a man recording the scene asks her in the local dialect why she is carrying her mother-in-law over such a long distance.

Replying to him, the woman explains that the pension money is only given when the elderly beneficiary is brought to the bank in person.

She also says there is no transport service in the village area and the route involves crossing streams and difficult forest roads.

Family receives around Rs 1,500 pension

During the conversation heard in the viral clip, the woman says the family receives around Rs 1,500 as pension money. She also mentions that sometimes payments for several months are released together.

Sukhmania Bai further says that earlier, pension payments were either delivered locally or were easier for villagers to access. However, according to her, that arrangement is no longer working properly.

घटना छत्तीसगढ़ के सरगुजा की है एक बहू अपनी 90 साल की बूढ़ी सास को पीठ पर लादकर घर से 9 किलोमीटर दूर पेंशन का पैसा उतारने बैंक जाती हैइस तपती धुप मे हम अकेले पैदल नहीं चल पा रहे लेकिन एक बहू को अपने सास को लेकर 9 किलोमीटर पैदल जाना पढ़ रहा ये है विश्व की चौथी अर्थव्यवस्था वाले... twitter/MalfPNzO3v

- Ramniwas Akela (@Ramniwas_Akela) May 24, 2026

यह तस्वीर सिर्फ एक बहू की नहीं, बल्कि उस व्यवस्था की तस्वीर है, जहां आज़ादी के दशकों बाद भी बुज़ुर्गों को सम्मान नहीं, संघर्ष मिलता है। एक ओर देश डिजिटल इंडिया, विश्वगुरु और विकास की ऊची इमारतों की बातें करता है।दूसरी ओर एक बहू अपनी 90 वर्ष की सास को पीठ पर लादकर 9 किलोमीटर दूर... twitter/1FMhMEy6vU

- Aditya Shukla (@journaditya) May 23, 2026

सुशासन की तस्वीरें अब विज्ञापनों में नहीं, लोगों की पीठ पर दिख रही हैं। एक बहू अपनी 90 साल की सास को 9 किलोमीटर तक पीठ पर ढोकर पेंशन दिलाने ले जा रही है, और सत्ता शायद इसे भी व्यवस्था की सफलता मानकर तालियां बजा दे। डिजिटल इंडिया, ऑनलाइन सुविधा, जनसेवा केंद्र और बुजुर्ग सम्मान के... twitter/h7OwSqp90t

- Jaydas Manikpuri (@JayManikpuri2) May 23, 2026

As a result, families are now forced to travel long distances just to collect welfare payments meant for elderly people.

Social media reacts strongly

After the video spread online, many social media users expressed sadness and anger over the situation. Several people questioned why very old and bedridden pensioners in remote villages are still required to travel physically for verification despite repeated claims about Digital India services and doorstep welfare delivery.

Some users said the video reflects the large gap between government announcements and the reality faced by people in forest and tribal regions.

Others pointed out that difficult roads, lack of transport and weak infrastructure continue to create serious problems for villagers trying to access to face hardship while trying to access basic government benefits.

The emotional visuals of Sukhmania Bai carrying her elderly mother-in-law across forests and streams have left many people asking whether welfare systems are truly reaching those who need them most.

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