Solapur (Maharashtra): At a time when even relatives are afraid of caring for and performing the last rites of Covid positive persons, Solapur social activist Kavita Chavan has cremated about 3000 Corona victims. Covid being a contagious disease, rarely do people come forward for performing the last rites if a person dies of Covid.
However, Kavita along with few other activists has been cremating the Covid patients for the last one and a half years. They have been at the forefront in performing the last rites of about 3000 people who lost the battle with Covid.
"After cremating so many people I have no fear or feelings about death anymore. Even if I lose my dear one I doubt if I will cry," said Kavita, talking to ETV Bharat.
Cremated 1900 bodies without charge
The first Covid patient was found in Solapur on April 12, 2020. No social organisation or activist was ready to deal with the situation at that time.
Some government officials took the lead to perform the final rites of the first person who died of Covid. This was followed by a rapid rise in the number of patients and accordingly the death rate went up.
The administration had warned that people may get infected while performing the last rites. Therefore everybody chose to remain away from last rites. Municipal Commissioner and deputy commissioner called upon Kavita Chavan and her fellow activists to meet them and see if they could perform the task. Chavan took up the responsibility to perform the last rites of Covid patients at the Hindu crematorium.
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During the first wave of Covid, she performed the last rites of 1900 people for free. Later, taking cognizance of her dedication, the municipal corporation started giving her an honorarium of Rs 1000 per cremation. Even during the deadly second wave, she continued with her task of cremating Covid patients according to Hindu rituals.
3000 cremated so far
Kavita Chavan and her associates have been involved in the final journey of over 3000 Covid positive people in the first and second wave of the pandemic. After the second wave the death rate has increased. While relatives are running from pillar to post for oxygen and bed in hospitals, the death count has been rising.
In such a scenario, Kavita Chavan has been dedicatedly doing her job of cremating the dead following the rituals.
