BENGALURU: Crematorium workers, who have seen their workload increase tremendously over the past month, on Saturday had a special guest who served them food.
J Manjunath, Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, served workers breakfast and partook in the meal, expressing gratitude for their work.
With deaths skyrocketing over the past month, the BBMP opened new crematoriums in Giddenahalli and Tavarekere.
Manjunath visited the Tavarekere crematorium where he shared a meal with workers.
Local authorities say 1,676 bodies have been cremated at Tavarekere and 1,026 in Giddenahalli.
Crematorium workers say each of them, on an average, has helped cremate at least 40 bodies.
Ravi N, secretary, cremation workers union, said, “Usually people remain only until their work is done.
For the first time, someone has recognised our efforts and expressed gratitude.” Suresh, state general secretary of Dr BR Ambedkar Dalita Samithi and a leader for crematorium workers, said they were thrilled with the DC’s gesture.
“Even to this day, crematorium workers face discrimination.
People and officials hesitate to mingle with us.
We have worked day and night, but there is no recognition.
But the DC spent time with us, and we felt our work has been recognised.” Manjunath told TOI he wanted to thank workers for the toil they had put in over the past month.
“They worked day and night, risking their lives to cremate bodies.
They are Covid warriors,” Manjunath said.
“On behalf of the district administration, I wanted to thank them.
We distributed ration kits to all workers.
Also, we celebrated Environment Day by planting saplings.”