Bhawanipatna: Moved by the plight of poor families who do not have the resources to conduct a befitting funeral for their beloved ones, a resident has launched a free funeral service for those who cannot afford it.
Lalchand Choudhury offers a free hearse service, and also arranges for the logs required for cremation and other formalities.
“Many people face difficulties in arranging for logs to cremate their departed kin. That is really painful as they are already going through immense trauma of having lost a loved one. The least one can do to ease their grief is to make the whole funeral process as hassle-free as possible. Out of this desire was born my idea to come up with a free hearse service,” Choudhury says.
The infrastructure at the local cremation ground is pitiable, say locals.
Wanting to change that, Choudhury set about renovating the crematorium near Sadar police station by spending out of his own pocket. A rest shed for the pallbearers was built and drinking water facilities were installed, said Choudhury.
The services were availed for the first time Friday by the family members of deceased Bilu Singh of Statuepada.
While Choudhury offers his services free of cost to those who cannot afford it, he charges Rs 2,001 from those who can, in order to keep the service afloat.
According to reports, though there is a timber depot of Orissa State Forest Corporation in the town, it is difficult to procure logs in time.
“On several occasions, the wood that is available is not suitable for cremation and we have to buy them from the market paying a lot of money,” locals said. Though the issue was raised with the district administration and municipality, it was not heeded, they added.
Realising the miserable plight of the people, Choudhury first constructed a structure on the cremation ground and stored logs with which at least 20 bodies can be burnt.
Poor people can avail the wood by submitting an application authenticated by two known persons of their respective wards. Similarly, a hearse would be provided free of cost to bring the body to the crematorium, Choudhury said. He has planted some neem saplings on the cremation ground and efforts are on to build a morgue, Choudhury added.
Locals said it is high time that the administration take a leaf out of Choudhury’s book and come up with similar measures in other cremation grounds in the town. PNN