On Wednesday, A tribal man along with his 12 year old daughter, carrying dead body of his wife walked around 10 km because he failed to get a ,mortuary van to transport it from a Government hospital in the backward district of Kalahandi where the wife of Majhi died.
The incident took place on Wednesday morning when the locals saw Dana Majhi carrying the dead body of his wife Amang Dei. The woman 42 year old died of Tuberculosis on Tuesday night at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatnain Kalahandi, Odhisa.
For those in such a situation, the government of Naveen Patnaik launched the scheme ‘Mahaparayana’ in February. According to the new scheme, the government offers free transportation of dead bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased.
However, Majhi said that despite he could not get any help from the hospital authorities, despite his all-out efforts.
Thus, Majhi wrapped the dead body of his wife in cloth and started walking to his village Melghara in Rampur block. His village is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.
The daughter of Majhi accompanied him till some local reporters spotted the duo. They called up the District Collector of Kalahandi and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey of Majhi.
Majhi told a local TV channel that I told the hospital officials that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle. Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot help you.
District Collector of Kalahandi – Brunda D said that we spoke to the CDMO as we got to know of the incident and arranged for an ambulance.
He said that I have issued instructions to the Tehsildar to provide assistance under the Harishchandra Yojana (Assistance to the poor and destitute to perform last rites). I have also asked the BDO to provide assistance from CMRF and Red Cross.
According to the ‘Mahaparayana’ scheme that dead body carriers are supposed to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job in the district.
