In a heart-rending incident highlighting the lack of basic funeral services in rural Odisha, the body of an 80-year-old woman was transported to a cremation ground on a bicycle after her family failed to arrange a hearse vehicle in Paikmal block of Bargarh district.
The deceased, Jayanti Bachha, a destitute resident of Kantapada village, died on Thursday morning. She had been living in extreme poverty with her mentally challenged daughter.With no hearse van available in the area and no financial means to hire private transport, her grandson, Shubham Bachha, along with relatives and villagers, tied her body to a bicycle and took it to the cremation ground to perform the last rites.
The distressing incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who questioned why families in remote villages are still compelled to resort to such undignified measures despite government welfare schemes aimed at ensuring dignified funeral services.Following the incident, Paikmal Block Development Officer Praful Oddu visited the bereaved family and extended financial assistance under the Harishchandra Yojana.
The administration also provided the family with 50 kg of rice.The episode is reminiscent of several similar incidents reported from different parts of Odisha over the years, raising fresh concerns over the implementation of welfare measures in remote areas.
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