Punjab SC panel for common cremation grounds

The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission on Sunday asked the state government to formulate a plan to ensure common cremations grounds for all, irrespective of one's caste and religion, in the state's villages and towns.

Commission Chairman Rajesh Bagha said that at present separate cremation grounds existed in most of the villages in Punjab.

Calling for an end to this trend, Bagha said only one cremation ground should be set up in every village and town depending on the population in each.

"There is a need for common cremation grounds in villages and cities to promote and further strengthen communal harmony and brotherhood, leading to eradication of social evils," he said.

Bagha said the commission had issued instructions to Punjab rural development and panchayat department, which had prepared a plan for constructing common cremation grounds.

"The department had also formulated a plan to disburse a grant of Rs.5 lakh each to villages willing to agree to common cremation grounds. The (existing) cremation grounds receive monetary grants from the governments at regular intervals," Bagha said.

There are over 12,000 villages in Punjab.

The commission chief said that cremation grounds should have facilities for electric cremation to help reduce environmental pollution and check cutting of trees.

The matter regarding the cremation grounds was brought to commission notice by Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer H.C. Arora.

--IANS

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