Prabath Velatu was born into a low-income farming family in Bihar. He began working as a teenager to help his family with agriculture before moving into construction work to earn more money. In search of better opportunities, he migrated to Maharashtra, where he spent quite a few years working as a construction labourer before finding more consistent employment as a farm caretaker and general helper.
Throughout his working life, Prabath depended on physical labour to support his family because he was never formally educated. Although his earnings gradually increased, his employment was always informal, without a permanent contract, paid leave or a pension. Much of his income went towards household expenses and raising his two sons, leaving little opportunity to build retirement savings.
As he grew older, the physical demands of his work became harder to manage, and he stopped working regularly in 2019. Today, he occasionally takes up small jobs, but his primary financial support comes from his son, who lives with him and covers household expenses, including food, utilities and medical costs.
Prabath's life illustrates how a lifetime of work does not necessarily guarantee financial security in old age. His experience highlights the importance of accessible pensions and retirement savings, particularly for informal workers whose contributions to their families and communities may go largely unrecognised.