Bengaluru, Jul 25: The Karnataka government on Saturday announced a waiver of crematorium fees for those who succumb to the COVID-19 infection in Bengaluru and said the city civic body would bear the cost.
It said that from now on, families of the COVID deceased need not pay any fees fixed by the city civic body- Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)- across 12 electric crematoriums in the city.
"There were reports in the media about difficulties faced in performing the last rites of those who died due to COVID-19 infections. Aimed at resolving those difficulties, certain decisions have been taken," Revenue Minister R Ashoka said.
He told reporters here that BBMP had fixed Rs 250 as the cremation fee, Rs 100 for the ash collection pot and Rs 900 for the bier (bamboo stretcher on which the body is carried), all of which have been waived for COVID deaths.
"So it will be a waiver of Rs 1,250 per cremation. The BBMP will bear this cost," he added.
Ashoka also announced Rs 500 per body incentive for the personnel who conduct the last rites of COVID victims.
"This is in recognition of their services at a time when family members of the deceased are not ready to touch the body and not ready to take the body in some cases," he said.
Noting that the government has identified 23 acres of land at five places around Bengaluru for burial or cremation of COVID victims, Ashoka locals in all these areas are protesting against it.
Appealing to the people for cooperation during these difficult times, he said the government's intention was to ensure respectful burial or cremation for the deceased.
"Obstructing it is not right, it is not Indian tradition," he said.
Pointing out that it takes almost a day's time for a COVID victim's body to be handed over for burial or cremation, he said "scientifically, according to experts and doctors, the virus will not remain alive for more than three hours.
...Also, bodies are either burnt or buried eight feet below. So there will not be any problem for those living in nearby areas and it will not spread infection. Cooperate with humanity," he said.
"These lands identified are for all religions and communities and once the pandemic subsides, can be used for other deaths as well," he said.
Kasaragod, Aug 3: Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and Kollam MP N K Premachandran has said that following a submission made by him in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh stated that, as per reports, persons from various States, including Kerala, who had gone missing reached camps of terrorist outfits such as the Islamic State and that nine cases had been registered in Kerala alone in this connection.
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Most Hopeless, Dumb and Irresponsible Home Minister in the History of Indian Govts.
This is diverting tactics from key issues, forget this ISIS this is not at all encouraged by Indian Muslims. This is BJP agenda to hide their Failure.
Government is quick on diverting minds of people....I don't think there are any ISIS in India.....to escape from the responsibility of safe guarding Dalits and minorities....this is the game gimmick....what a rubbish...
How can we believe these LIARs who have no shame in Fooling public again & again. The HM and Times now made an innocent decent guy as terrorist, just by quoting from a Bangladesh news paper (They apologized later) ... These LIARS have PHD in spreading LIES and making innocent a Terrorist. Recognise and be alert when you get news from these cheddis... Use your intellect and verify before you blame the innocent which may later find regretting for the action YOU take.
9 missing persons out of 20 crores.....PEA NUTS.... All the fingers of a hand are not equal.... After 5 years, the govt will come back and say, these were wrong reports by Police, as happened in the case of Akshamdam and Hyderabad attacks...
After 10 years everybody will be proved innocent..
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