The Ranchi Municipal Corporation has fixed charges for the cremation procedures (final rituals) at the crematorium Harmu Mukti Dham and Ghagra Ghat. The RMC has also issued toll free number 0651-2200011 of the control room for registering complaints against those who charge exorbitant changes for performing final rites. The RMC and district administration took the initiative after they received complaints from families that staff and persons who are conducting final rites are charging exorbitant fees from families for performing final rites of Covid patients.

Argora Circle Officer, Arvind Ojha looking after the final rites of Covid patients at Harmu Mukti Dham and Ghagra Ghat said, “The district administration’s effort is to ensure that those conducting final rites at Harmu Mukti Dham and Ghagra Ghat don’t charge exorbitantly.” Ojha further said, “As per Municipal office directive, the charges for performing last rites at Ghagra Ghat is Rs 2500, while at Ghagra Ghat it is free of cost. Action will be taken against those who charge more fees at these two crematoriums.”

Sources said, after a surge in Covid cases in past few weeks, the two crematoriums have been witnessing on an average more than 50 dead bodies reaching crematoriums for final rites. As most of the dead bodies are of Covid patients, there is fear and panic among people performing last rites, many times they charge exorbitant fees. There were instances where people had to pay more than Rs 10,000 for performing final rites. As the dead bodies are of Covid patients, the family members are left with no other alternative but to pay exorbitant fees to persons engaged in performing final rites.

Based on complaints from different quarters, teams of District administration and Ranchi Municipal Corporation on Wednesday visited two ghats to take stock of situations. The team headed by RMC deputy municipal commissioner Rajnish Kumar issued some directives such as behaving properly with bereaved family members and also fixed the rate for final rites.

The RMC officials on their visit to two ghats, also directed to set up dustbins for disposing the PPE kits and other plastic sheets, on which the dead bodies are wrapped. People have been instructed to dispose of PPE kits and plastic sheets at dustbins set up by civic bodies.

Meanwhile, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya has issued a contact number of RMC officials who can issue death certificates of Covid patients at respective ghats. Vijayvargiya said, “The RMC has issued the number of officials at Mukti Dham and Ghagra ghats after they received complaints that bereaved family members of Covid patients are facing difficulties in getting death certificates.”