Lucknow: They ensure dignity in death for corona victims

LUCKNOW: Azad has always been particular about keeping ‘roza’ (fast) during Ramzan, but this time putting the call of duty on top he decided not to fast which gets much more challenging as he is required to wear a PPE kit for six hours under a tin shed in the summer heat to ensure that the people who die of Covid-19 get a decent farewell.
Azad, the 34-year-old employee at the electric crematorium at Bhaisakund, wakes up early morning to perform his household chores before reaching the crematorium before 9am.
Like Azad, the eightmember contractual staff at this electric crematorium with two machines are working overtime, while keeping their personal interests aside for the past one month given the rise in Covid-19 deaths. Most families upon the death of a member due to Covid-19 prefer electric cremation. As a result, till March 6-8 bodies were brought daily for cremation here, but for the past one month, the per day number has gone up three times. Hence, the timings of the cremation have been extended from eight hours (9am to 5pm) to 12 hours (9am to 9pm) and employees have been working without any weekly break.
“Even if the conditions improve now, I won't be able to live the same life as I used to. This pandemic has caused me immense mental pressure, I am not able to eat properly for past one-and-ahalf-month due to this,” says Azad Workers at the crematorium are also worried about their and family’s safety. “There is a constant fear of getting infected and taking it home as well to your parents, wife and kids, but we also know that if we will back out at this hour, a chaotic situation would occur,” said Shiva, another worker.
The eight workers are deployed by rotation.
Similar situation is at the electric crematorium with two machines at Gulala Ghat. “Our body gets soaked with sweat while performing the funeral wearing a PPE kit. My wife and family are always worried for me, but I cannot run away from my duties as on one hand people will suffer and on the other I am the only earning member of the family”, said Nitin, an employee.
The other seven employees also said that they live under constant fear, but despite working overtime, their salaries remain the same. They are all adhoc workers on contract, not permanent employees of LMC.