40 crematoriums to be renovated at Rs 1 cr under Dharmasthala’s project

Belthangady: The Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project has earmarked Rs 1 crore for the redevelopment of 40 crematoriums.

Started by Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, the ‘Hindu Rudrabhumi Yojane’ to date has redeveloped a total of 550 crematoriums across the State at a cost of Rs 6.75 crore.

Under the Yojane, assistance is provided of up to Rs 2.5 lakhs for the installation of necessary equipment such as corpse chamber and other sub-components.

Provisions are also made under the Yojane for facilities such as firewood, bathing and toilet rooms, a ritual room and an all-weather protective shed.

Dr LH Manjunath, the Yojane’s executive director, informed that the Yojane has spent Rs 6.75 crores for redeveloping 550 crematoriums in the State but if the local contribution is added then the total amount spent on the crematoriums is about Rs 50 crores.

The new corpse chamber installed under the Yojane helps in reducing the amount of firewood needed for each funeral. Previously, about 800 to 1,000 kilograms of firewood was used in cremating a body, however, now 250 to 300 kilograms is enough.

Recently, crematoriums in Bengaluru were in the news as many were working non-stop due to a surge in the number of COVID-19 deaths and it was also alleged that many were charging exorbitant rates from bereaving families to cremate their loved ones.

Many of the crematorium workers are on contract and have not been paid salaries for months.