Lucknow: The Aadhaar has been made mandatory for cremating bodies at the Mannikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats in Varanasi that, according to Hindu tradition, give ‘moksha’ (state attained as a result of being released from the cycle of rebirth) to those who have died.
A decision to this effect was taken by the authorities after the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) came across several complaints of relatives cremating bodies of those who died in honour killing, dowry-related cases or even those facing criminal charges without informing the police. Most of these complaints came from districts adjoining to Varanasi on Bihar border.
The NDRF runs a free mechanised boat service to ferry bodies from Bhiansasur Ghat to Manikanika and Harishchandra Ghats for cremation. The service was started on the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
To avoid frequent jams and crowding of bodies coming from Bihar and other side of Ganga at Manikarnika and Harischancdra Ghats, the authorities had introduced a new system directing relatives to take bodies at Bhainsasur ghat first and after getting a green signal for cremation, the NDRF would make available the steamer to ferry the bodies to the two ghats for cremation without charging anything from relatives.
But of late, the Foundation and Varanasi Vikas Samiti received many complaints from the UP and Bihar Police about people cremating bodies of those who died under mysterious circumstances without informing the police. Recently, on a tip-off from the police, the NDRF sought documents from relatives carrying a body. Later, inquiries revealed that the deceased had died in a case of honour killing.
“It was after such cases, the NDRF took a decision not to allow steamer services to relatives carrying body unless they produced Aadhaar card or any other identification proof related of the deceased for record purposes,” said Govind Kapoor, a member of the Varanasi Vikas Samiti, which provides all facilities to relatives coming from far off places for cremation.
Kapoor said that since majority of people in the country use Aadhar cards as an id proof, the NDRF generally ask for it. “Since Varanasi is Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency, we have requested the NDRF to accept other id proofs (driver’s licence, PAN card) if Aadhar is not available.