‘Fleecing’ in name of rituals at Sector 25 crematorium

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 17

Even as cremation charges have been fixed at the Sector 25 cremation ground, some people have complained that they are being fleeced in the name of rituals.

We do not force anyone to pay. It is their will. We have to pay the staff and feed our children too. Our fourth generation is serving here and seeing the attitude of people towards priests, my next generation is not going to carry on the service. – Gulshan Sharma, Priest

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Officialspeak

Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma said, “Wood is costly these days and it is priced at only Rs3,000. However, one can bring ‘samagri’ from outside too. For other rituals, one may pay or refuse.”

According to the Municipal Corporation, an amount of Rs3,000 for wood and Rs1,500 for ‘samagri’ has been fixed for the last rites. Besides, one may donate to the priest performing the cremation ritual as per one’s wish.

However, some people complained that they were charged for various other things.

Sunil Ohri, a resident of Sector 38, said, “Last month, my uncle was cremated at the Sector 25 ground and I had a bad experience. Apart from the cost of wood and ‘samagri’, all of us were asked to shell Rs500 each. Due to Covid restrictions, only seven of us were present and we all paid.”

“When we went to collect the ashes the next day, my cousin was asked to pay for 10-day food of the priest and also perform “dashami” there. They are just fleecing people who are already in deep sorrow. We paid around Rs10,000 for the cremation and collecting the ashes,” he added.

A woman not wishing to be named, who had come for the cremation of her aunt, lamented, “It is sad. They ask for money for every ritual. At that point of time, one does not find it appropriate to say no to the priest. This system should stop. There should be a fixed minimal amount for everything. Information about all charges to be collected by the staff should be given before the cremation.”

Gulshan Sharma, a priest and incharge of the centre, said, “We do not force anyone to pay. It is their will. We have to pay our staff and feed out children too. People pay only for puja. Our fourth generation is serving here and seeing the attitude of people towards priests, my next generation is not going to carry on the service.”

Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma said, “Wood is costly these days and it is priced at only Rs3,000. However, one can bring ‘samagri’ from outside too. For other rituals, one may pay or refuse.”