Inflation hits even the dead in northern India
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Nominal rates for the funeral of a dead person belonging to Hindu faith have increased at Varanasi in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The rates have shot up by rupees 100, from 151 ($3.40) to 251 ($ 5.65) since July 04 which the attendants at the cremation grounds in this temple city have attributed to inflation.
The cremation is usually done at (a cremation ground) of the city where the caretakers usually fix the rates.
Sharing these views with the mediapersons, Vishwanath Chowdhary, caretaker of the Manikarnika Ghat cremation ground in Varanasi said that it was necessary to increase the rates since he and his clan had to survive.
"The rate has increased since July 04, 2011. The prices have increased a lot, the price of petrol has increased, the cost of cereals has increased and because of that we have increased the rates by 100 rupees ($2.25) for our daily bread. Earlier the rates were 151 rupees ($3.40) and we have raised it to 251 rupees ($5.65)," said Vishwanath Chowdhary, caretaker, Manikarnika Cremation Ghat, Varanasi..
Increase in rates has caused a serious problem for the locals, the poor people in particular.
The caretakers at the funeral grounds fix the rate according to customers and often the rates may touch the figure of rupees 3000 ($68) to 4,000($90.151).
"Earlier the rates of funeral were 151 and now it is 251.The visitors who come here, are facing a lot of problems as they have to arrange money for the final ritual of a departed person,' said Rahul, caretake of a cremation ground, Varanasi.
Hindus regard Varanasi as the most sacred place to depart from this world.
Around 300 to 400 funerals are performed in a day at the various cremation grounds in the city.
Rates of the funeral increase in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state by at least a hundred rupees, attributed to increase in prices of almost all commodities.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 09, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. A CREMATION GROUND
2. A MAN SITTING ON FIREWOOD
3. EXTERIOR OF A TEMPLE
4. PEOPLE IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION AT THE CREMATION GROUND
5. A BODY LYING ON THE CREMATION GROUND
6. PEOPLE WALKING
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) VISHWANATH CHOWDHARY, CARETAKER OF A CREMATION GROUND AT VARANASI, SAYING:
"The rate has increased since July 04, 2011. The prices have increased a lot, the price of petrol has increased, the cost of cereals has increased and because of that we have increased the rates by 100 rupees ($2.25) for our daily bread. Earlier the rates were 151 rupees ($3.40) and we have raised it to 251 rupees ($5.65)."
8. FIREWOOD LYING ON FLOOR
9. A PYRE BEING PREPARED FOR A FUNERAL
10. A MAN WEIGHING FIREWOOD FOR THE FUNERAL
11. A WEIGHING MACHINE
12. A MAN CARRYING WOODEN LOGS ON HIS SHOULDERS
13. PALL BEARNERS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION
14. A BODY KEPT ON A PYRE
15. MEN STANDING
16. A MAN TORCHING A PYRE
17. A CREMATION GROUND
18. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RAHUL, CARETAKER OF A CREMATION GROUND, VARANASI, SAYING:
"Earlier the rates of funeral were 151 and now it is 251.The visitors who come here, are facing a lot of problems as they have to arrange money for the final ritual of a departed person."
19. A GHAT (BANK)
20. A PYRE
21. A MAN STANDING NEAR THE PYRE
22. PYRES AT A CREMATION GROUND
23. CREMATION GROUND
No comments:
Post a Comment