Journos in Karnataka’s Kodagu don PPE, cremate ‘untouchable’ Covid body
Family of deceased Covid victim feared infection, Kodagu journos conducted the funeral
BENGALURU:
Normally, journalists are seen are gatherers and purveyors of (hopefully!) factual and balanced information. But in a rare case in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, a group of them felt socially obliged to put aside their pens and put on PPE kits to cremate a Covid patient’s body that was shunned by the patient’s own family.
The incident has gone viral and garnered much praise on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook for the five journalists — Rejith Kumar Guhya (Kannada daily Prajavani’s stringer) who is also the Kodagu district Press Club’s treasurer) and other freelance journalists Pappu Thimmaiah, Praveen, Anish and Shareen.
Speaking to TheBengaluruLive, Rejith noted that Kodagu is well-known for its coffee plantations, but one of the drawbacks is that people stay in remote areas where they do not have access to proper facilities.
Journos in aid of citizens
Considering this aspect, local journalists decided to form a ‘Madhyam Spandana’, a 30-member group led by senior journalist Ajjamada Ramesh Kuttappa, to aid citizens who are not able to get required groceries, food packets or medical facilities. The group ties up with other volunteers in providing assistance and distributing food packets.
However, what was totally unexpected was when the ‘Madhyam Spandana’ team received a call about a family not wanting to touch the body of a deceased Covid victim. The incident was reported from Balamuri village near Muru Nadu town, 18 km from the district headquarters.
Unusual call
Rejith said, “This was the first call of its kind that we received, where a family did not want to touch the body of an 85-year-old Covid patient who had died at home. Even the villagers were reluctant. It was then that we five journalists decided to wear PPE kits, with due precautions, to cremate the body.”
Most days they report news and during emergencies they lend a helping hand too.
— Kodagu Connect (@KodaguConnect) May 16, 2021
A team of journalists in Kodagu join hands to cremate a Covid victim this afternoon since the victim’s family were all Covid positive and their relatives were scared to perform last rites. pic.twitter.com/qACf7sVrjN
He added, “On Sunday, we wore PPE kits and carried the body to the family’s farm, a distance of 500 metres from the house. Later, the son of the deceased also wore a PPE kit and performed the rituals as per Kodava customs.”
The incident was an eye-opener, and Rejith said, “After Sunday’s incident, we have formed a team of journalists to be ready even to help with cremations.”
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