In the wake of repeated instances of relatives carrying dead family members’ bodies on shoulder, trolley in shocking manners either due to poverty or Government inaction, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched a new initiative, Mahaparayan, offering free transportation of bodies from Government hospitals to the residences of the deceased here at Bajapur.
The scheme was launched just a day after a man carried his wife’s body on his shoulders for about 12 km after he failed to obtain a mortuary van or an ambulance from the Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) at Bhawanipatna.
Under the scheme, family members would be provided vehicles to carry the bodies of their relatives who die in hospitals to their homes free of cost.
“The State Government today launched Mahaprayana scheme to provided vehicles to carry the dead bodies of their near and dear ones who die in hospitals to their homes free of cost,” said Patnaik.
The scheme is now available at all the 30 District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs), the three Government medical college hospitals, Sardar Vallavbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP) or Sishu Bhawan, Cuttack, Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC), Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, and RGH, Rourkela.
The vehicles would be owned by the District Red Cross societies under the respective Collectors.
Besides, Patnaik also dedicated 100 bridges under the Biju Setu programme and included 3 lakh beneficiaries under the Madhubabu Pension scheme.
“I am very happy to inaugurate 100 bridges for 23 districts including for Cuttack today. My Government is focusing on providing all facilities in villages that are available in towns and has empowered the panchayats,” said Patnaik, adding that more than 40 lakh people had earlier been included under the Madhubabu Pension scheme.
“Today, additional 3 lakh more beneficiaries are added under the scheme,” said Patnaik.
Among others, Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra, Women and Child Development Minister Usha Devi, labour Minister Prafulla Mallick, Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda and Mahanga MlA Pratap Jena were present.