Karnataka: Chamarajanagar additional DC attends funeral to beat Covid-19 fears

MYSURU: At a time when people are protesting against last rites of Covid-19 victims in their vicinity, some even targeting mourners, a senior officer in Chamarajanagar district decided to lead from the front the battle against stigmatisation, by attending the funeral of a 60-year-old patient on Thursday.
District additional deputy commissioner CL Anand said his action will boost the confidence among Covid-19 warriors in rural areas and send a message to society.
‘We should respect victims, warriors’
A resident of Bastipura in Kollegal died on Thursday morning at the district’s Covid hospital. A team of volunteers trained by the health department arrived there and prepared for the last rites as per the protocol. Anand accompanied the team throughout — from packing the body till the burial.
“I was in the Indian Army for 15 years before becoming an officer. Fear and lack of information have resulted in many families hesitating to even see the bodies of their loved ones. I wanted to end this,” said Anand, from Malavalli in Mandya.
“In rural areas, Covid-19 patients and their families are treated badly So are hundreds of pourakarmikas, officers and doctors. To boost their confidence, I attended the funeral. We should respect the victims and warriors,” Anand added.