Aurangabad, June 7:
The second wave of Coronavirus witnessed a large number of deaths, in the city and other parts of the district, compared to the deaths during the first wave. It may be noted that Aurangabad witnesses the arrival of patients from all over Marathwada and other neighbouring districts for the treatment. However, many succeed in recovering while some succumb to the infection while undergoing treatment in the government or private hospital. The expense of deceased patients (including private hospitals) is borne by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
Accordingly, 3,270 deaths had taken place in the jurisdiction of the city during the last 15 months and the AMC had spent Rs 1.46 crore on performing their last rites. It may be noted that the AMC is not burdened with an honorarium to perform last rites on departed souls of the Muslim community.
To perform the last rites upon the deceased patients and suspects as per the government guidelines, the AMC had appointed Panchsheel Mahila Bachat Gut (a women self-help group) and an SHG of Moin Mastan to perform the last rites in March 2020. The SHG of Mastan performs the last rites free of cost and it is doing it since day one. The SHG does not take any honorarium from the AMC. However, the AMC, on each body, pays Rs 2,500 as an honorarium to Panchasheel SHG and Rs 2,500 to the caretaker of the crematorium (Smashan Jogis) as an expense of wood and other necessary material. It is the responsibility of the SHG to take possession of the body from the hospital and transport it to the crematorium or graveyard to perform last rites as per religious traditions. The AMC has appointed health officials to monitor these happenings.
According to the municipal officer of health (MoH), Dr. Neeta Padalkar said, " The SHGs appointed by the AMC since day one are functioning in the city. They perform last rites as per rituals upon Covid-patients and suspects. The AMC grants an honorarium of Rs 2,500 to SHG and Rs 2,500 to the caretaker of the crematorium per body. So far, the AMC had paid an honorarium of Rs 1.46 crore. It includes Rs 1.16 crore to the caretakers and Rs 24.86 lakh to Panchasheel SHG."
The additional district civil surgeon Dr. Kamlakar Mudkhedkar said, " The last rites upon the deceased Covid patients is being performed for the last one and a half years by SHGs. It is performed as per the guidelines of the government. We had not received any complaint in this regard."
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A total of 1.43 lakh patients were infected by the Coronavirus in the district to date. Out of which, 1.38 lakh persons had recovered from the infection, 2400 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals and 3,270 had lost their lives. Of the total deaths reported, 2798 took place in a tertiary hospital like Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and 472 in private hospitals. The present positivity rate is 5.22 percent.