Haunted by the fear of death, crematorium employees demand for insurance

The death toll of coronavirus in Vadodara is increasing every day and as per the guidelines of COVID19, the cremation of suspected COVID patients and of COVID patients is being carried out using gas pyres at the designated crematoriums in Vadodara.

On Friday, the supervisor of Jalaraam Seva Trust- Anurag Pandey, staged a protest at Khaswadi crematorium demanding an insurance cover for the employees working at the crematorium or to include them in the team of the Corporation. About 25 employees are working at a monthly salary of Rs. 9,000 at different crematoriums for the last rites of the COVID patients. The salary is insufficient for them and they are haunted by the fear of death by the virus too. Hence, they demanded an insurance cover, as they also have families to support and are constantly risking their lives. If they are not provided with any insurance cover then they have demanded to be included in the team of the Corporation.

Pandey threatened to intensify the agitation if the demands are not resolved by the administration.