MAPUSA
While stigmatization of patients found positive for Covid-19 is repulsive it has also created difficulties for the dead.
On Sunday, the relatives of a resident of Bastora, who died of Covid-19 complications were forced to cremate the body in Mapusa after they were disallowed to perform the last rites in the Bastora crematorium for fear of contagion.
The kin and well-wishers of the victim blamed the Bastora panchayat for rejecting the funeral of the Covid patient in the village crematorium.
“The Bastora panchayat has stooped to such a low level as to deny a dignified farewell to the dead. How can the Bastora crematorium oppose the cremation of a body? The panchayat is responsible for denying the basic human right of the dead,” said Vinayak Nanoskar, President of Hindu Mahasabha, Goa unit.
“With this action the Bastora panchayat has tarnished the name of all Hindus in Goa,” he added.
Surprisingly, this was not the first of a kind situation in the village. Around 12 days ago a relative of a former sarpanch of Bastora who also died due to Covid infection was denied cremation in the village crematorium. That body was later also cremated in Mapusa.
Expressing disgust at the sorry state of affairs, Nanoskar said the dead person was a voter of Bastora and therefore should have been allowed to conduct his last rites in the village crematorium.
He appealed to the chief minister and the local MLA to build another crematorium in the village where all sections of the people could be accommodated.
Several locals condemned the incident calling it a violation of basic human rights.
“This type of action is not acceptable in Goa. Shame on Bastora,” said Gaja Lotlikar, a resident of Mapusa.
Bastora Sarpanch, Ranjit Usgaonkar said it was not fair to blame the panchayat for the incident and pointed fingers at the crematorium committee for not allowing cremation of Covid bodies.
“The panchayat has no role in cremation of bodies in the village crematorium. It’s the sole decision of the crematorium committee,” Usgaonkar said.
However, the sarpanch said he wanted to resolve the issue at the earliest and therefore called a meeting with the crematorium committee on Monday.
“I will convince the crematorium committee to allow cremation of those people who died of Covid infection,” he said.
