Fresh orders issued for payment to kin for  cremation of Covid victims

| | Lucknow
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Fresh orders issued for payment to kin for  cremation of Covid victims

Monday, 17 May 2021 | PNS | Lucknow



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The Panchayati Raj department, in a bid to prevent the dumping of bodies into the Ganga river, has issued fresh orders for payment of Rs 5,000 by village panchayats and urban local bodies for the cremation of the dead. Similar order was first issued in June last year.
Additional Chief Secretary, Panchyati Raj, Manoj Kumar Singh said there could be several reasons why bodies were being dumped into the river. “It may be the lack of resources to buy firewood, tradition in some communities or the scare caused by the pandemic,” he pointed out.
He said there is no dearth of money and the government has given adequate funds to the village panchayats and urban local bodies for cremation of the Covid patients.
“In view of the availability of money for the cremation, there is no reason for dumping the bodies into the river,” the official said.
In the backdrop of corpses found floating in the Ganga, the Centre on Sunday directed officials in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to prevent people from dumping the bodies into the river or its tributaries and ensure safe disposal of corpses.
Official sources said the Namami Gange Ministry has directed the state government to prevent the dumping of dead bodies into the Ganga and focus on their safe disposal and providing support for ensuring dignified cremation.
The Centre’s reaction comes in the backdrop of as many as 71 corpses found floating in the Ganga in Bihar’s Buxar district earlier this week. A similar incident was reported from Ghazipur and several other districts in UP.
These incidents come amid crematoriums across the country grappling to perform the last rites of Covid-19 victims due to a massive surge in the number of infections.
At a review meeting held on May 15 and 16, the Centre said dumping of the dead bodies and partially burnt or decomposed corpses into the Ganga and its tributaries has recently been reported, which is the most undesirable and alarming. The Centre has also directed the state pollution control boards to constantly monitor Ganga’s water quality.
Earlier on May 7, the Urban Development department had issued orders to all urban local bodies in the state to hold funerals of all those who died of coronavirus infection without charging any money.
The municipal corporations will bear the expenses of funerals at all crematoriums, cemeteries and cremation grounds falling within the limits of the corporation. The expenditure incurred on the funerals will be met by the urban local bodies from their own resources or from the annual grants received from the State Finance Commission. A maximum amount of Rs 5,000 will be spent on each funeral.

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