Kerala church allows cremation of COVID victims at its cemetery
Thiruvananthapuram: In perhaps for the first time, a Latin Catholic church in Kerala on Tuesday allowed cremation of a COVID-19 woman victim at its cemetery in line with the government health protocol, a gesture which came in for praise from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The woman, 62-year-oldTheresamma who died on Monday, was cremated at the St Augustine's Church at Mararikulam in Alappuzha as per the COVID-19 health protocol, in a departure from the practice of burying the dead.
She was suffering from kidney ailment and had died on Monday.
Her samples later tested positive for the infection.
Vijayan referred to an incident at Kottayam where a group of people led by a BJP councilor had tried to stop the health officials from conducting the final rites of a person who had died of the disease.
"Today was an entirely different experience. The Alappuzha diocese of the Catholic church informed that they will bury the ashes of the COVID victim after cremating, adhering to the health protocols," Vijayan said.
The act of the Alappuzha diocese was "admirable", and the district administration along with the health department will provide all assistance in the process, he said.
Bishop James Anapparambil of the diocese in a circular expressed willingness to cremate bodies of those who had died of the virus and said the decision was taken following requests from the district collector and health care workers.
In the prevailing situation, it would be difficult to perform funerals of COVID-19 victims in the cemeteries. Hence, bodies should be cremated at respective parishes in accordance with protocols of the government, the circular said.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
