Kendrapara: In an incident that puts humanity to shame, the body of a widow was taken in a trolley to a crematorium as nobody came to shoulder the bier.
The body of Ani Bewa (78), a resident of Antalo (Barahpur) village under Kendrapara block, was taken on a trolley for cremation from the house of her daughter in Narilo as fellow villagers refused to shoulder the bier.
According to locals, Ani was the mother of two daughters. She had been staying at her parental house in Antalo (Barahpur), after the demise of her husband 45 years back. But as she became old, she started staying at her eldest daughter Gitanjali’s house in Narilo. Ani died Thursday night.
“After the death of my mother, none in the village came forward to carry the bier. I telephoned my younger sister, Chhabirani Biswal and a cousin Dharanidhar Das seeking their help in taking the body to the crematorium ground,” Gitanjali, who is also a widow.
She even took up the matter with the sapranch of Chakroda seeking financial assistance under the Harishchandra Yojana and a hearse under the Mahaprayan Yojana.
However, the sarpanch refused to disburse money, as there is lack of funds under the Harishchandra Yojana in the panchayat.
The sarpanch reportedly advised her not to wait for Mahaprayan vehicle as it would reach late, Gitanjali alleged.
“As a result, we were forced to take the body on a trolley from Narilo to Antalo crematorium ground,” said Dharanidhar Das, the nephew of the deceased.
“We waited for more than three hours at the crematorium to perform the last rites as we didn’t have money. Finally, some villagers of Antalo (Barahpur) arranged all items needed to perform the last rites,” said Chhabirani.
“What should I do when not a single penny has been deposited in the panchayat account under the Harishchandra Yojana,” said sarpanch Bikash Kumar Rout.
District collector Reghu G said he has directed the BDO of Kendrapara to conduct an inquiry. A sum of Rs 5,000 has been provided to the next of the kin of the deceased from the District Red Cross Fund.
All sarpanchs have been advised to disburse money under the Harishchandra Yojana from the cash available with the panchayat office, the collector said, adding the Mahaprayan vehicles can be provided to take bodies only from hospitals. PNN
