Whether Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh or Delhi, Covid situation worsened beyond the control and badly affected the cremation. There was no respect for the dead. Dead bodies lied on the streets unattended. Family members struggled to ensure the last rites of the Covid deceased.

Graveyards were full and people had to wait for hours to cremate their near ones. The trauma and agony they went through, was unprecedented and only those who witnessed it, can feel. To add to the woes of the bereaved family members, social stigma demoralised them further.

Well, fortunately, situation in Odisha is much better. At the directive of CM Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha-Mo Parivar, one of the largest social service organisations in Odisha, has taken up this responsibility to cremate the Covid deceased.

The Odisha-Mo Parivar set up cremation help desks in various parts of the State including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. They have deployed dedicated team members at the help desks to help the family members of the Covid deceased round the clock with all kind of assistance. They also provide PPE Kits, Masks, Gloves, Sanitisers, earthern pot to store the bones etc.

With the dedication of Odisha-Mo Parivar and the efforts of local administration, Odisha Government has been smoothly conducting the last rites of all Covid deceased. Odisha stands different from the rest of the state when it comes to the Covid cremation management while a chaotic situation prevails in many other States.