Sunil Kumar Pandey, who lives on rent, has been working as a security guard in Lucknow since 2020. He had joined India Post in 2000 as a contract postman but the job was not confirmed and he had to leave it in 2019. His “only asset” are his son and daughter

Name & Age: Sunil Kumar Pandey, 62

Education & Profession: BCom first-year dropout, University of Allahabad, 1982; Security guard

Family & Place: Wife Sarita Pandey (60), daughter Niharika (23), son Nilesh (22)

Do you earn more or less, compared with 2019?

I used to get ₹14,500 per month as contract postman till 2019. Now, I get ₹10,000 a month

Do you save more or less compared with 2019?

I used to deposit ₹1,000 every month in a recurring account in the post office till 2022 but now with rise in living costs, I am unable to save any money

What things does your house now have that it did not in 2019?

Nothing, except basic necessities

What things does your neighbourhood have that it did not in 2019?

The colony where I live is new. There is a road in front of it but it is
partially broken. There is power supply for about 22 hours a day.

Have central/state govt schemes made any difference to your life? How?

The survey team comes to my house every year but they don’t include me on any list for government benefit schemes when they come to know that I used to work at the post office. The first criterion to get those benefits is to have a ration card but they don’t accept my application because I was in a government job, albeit temporary

Do your children go to school?

My daughter has a BSc in mathematics and teaches in a private school for ₹7,000 a month. My son has completed BCom and works in a clothes showroom for ₹14,000 per month. Both have studied in private schools and colleges and are working since 2023. They help me run the family but the standard of life has not changed in the last 10 years because of inflation.

Do you encounter more corruption or less in your daily life? Can you cite from personal experience areas where you are directly affected by corruption?

I don’t need to go to any government office. I had tried to get a ration card two years ago but they refused to make it. I didn’t try to bribe them.

Lucknow votes on May 20