PROJECT SHAMशान
A segment of the society that becomes greatly invisiblised, even as they face a significantly higher risk with regards to Covid-19, are workers in crematoriums and burial grounds. While the nation vaccinated frontline workers on a priority basis, these workers have not been recognised within this category - even though they handle deceased Covid patients, putting their health at risk. They have been working long hours to keep up with the rising number of bodies to be cremated and buried - largely without enough pay, protective equipment, food as well as having to contend with regular breach of Covid protocols by grieving families.
“It’s been very difficult for us here and BBMP has not helped us in any way. They don’t give us gloves, PPE kits. Whatever we are wearing is bought by us. The only thing provided by BBMP is the JCB.” ~ Bhaskar, a digger at Kallahalli burial ground.
Project Shamशान has been initiated to dignify these workers. Our team interacted with 7 burial ground workers at a burial ground in Kalahalli, Bengaluru. We found out that they handled about 20-30 bodies a day during the months of April-May, which has now reduced owing to new regulations. Although only 7 workers are on the government’s payroll, about 40 individuals live on the land. These are the workers’ families, who help with the work, and have been staying at the burial ground for several generations. The government is supposed to provide them with housing amenities, but has not done so yet, compelling them to live in makeshift sheds. There was one government-sanctioned toilet, which has been unusable for years, forcing these workers to use open fields near the ground - with women feeling unsafe without a private bathroom, and inconvenienced during menstruation. During summer, there is a problem of snakes and there is inadequate water provision - with only one tanker to be shared by everyone. Furthermore, they have no job security, since their jobs are not formalised and face erratic payments by the municipal corporation - they had not received their salaries for a year, which were only recently released to them. Discrimination against them is rampant, with their children being stigmatized at school and the women losing their jobs as domestic helpers once employers learnt they lived at the burial ground.
Dignity of labour begins with the recognition that no job is ‘dirty’ or menial and the burial ground workers are undoubtedly frontline workers. Project Shamशान is a small step towards helping them, and we have been working actively to raise funds. At the moment, we have procured 1 litre steel thermoses, reusable masks and gloves, sanitisers and mattresses for the workers here. We are in the stage of understanding their larger issues and brining them to the notice of the authorities in Bangalore.
