Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 05: Hindu Rashtra Shakti has urged the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration to establish an immediate and centralized system for the transportation of mortal remains of Islanders from the mainland to Sri Vijayapuram and from Sri Vijayapuram to the inter-islands.
In a letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, highlighted what he described as a serious humanitarian issue faced by Islanders when the mortal remains of their family members have to be transported after death on the mainland. The letter calls for immediate administrative intervention to ensure a dignified and hassle-free process for affected families.
Mr. Lall stated that Islanders live in a geographically remote part of the country, separated from the mainland by sea, and often have to travel to cities such as Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi for advanced medical treatment. According to him, while families already face considerable difficulties during medical emergencies, the situation becomes even more distressing when a family member dies on the mainland and the family has to arrange for the transportation of the mortal remains to their native place for the last rites.
The letter pointed out several difficulties currently faced by Islanders. It stated that there is no centralized system or single-window mechanism to assist families in such cases. Families are required to approach different departments and agencies, including hospitals, police authorities, the Shipping Department and airlines, for obtaining NOCs, embalming certificates and cargo bookings. The absence of a designated nodal officer, the letter said, further adds to the difficulties faced by bereaved families.
Mr. Lall also highlighted the financial burden involved in transporting mortal remains from the mainland to Sri Vijayapuram. According to the letter, airline charges can range from approximately Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.50 lakh for transporting a dead body from Chennai or Kolkata to Sri Vijayapuram. The letter stated that such expenses can be particularly difficult for economically weaker families, including tribal and fishing communities from remote areas such as Nicobar, Hut Bay, Campbell Bay and Diglipur.
Another major concern raised in the letter was the delay in transportation. Mr. Lall stated that due to the non-availability of ships, inadequate cold-storage facilities and delays in completing documentation, mortal remains may remain in mortuaries for three to four days, causing additional emotional distress to the families.
The letter also pointed to the absence of dedicated helpdesks or information counters at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Haddo Wharf and mainland airports to guide Islanders about the procedures and documentation required for transporting mortal remains.
Mr. Lall further sought greater assistance from Andaman Bhawan facilities in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi. He stated that families dealing with medical emergencies and deaths on the mainland require dedicated officers or teams to assist them with police formalities, embalming procedures and cargo bookings.
As part of its demands, Hindu Rashtra Shakti has called for the establishment of a 24×7 centralized single-window cell at Sri Vijayapuram under the Health or Shipping Department to handle all cases relating to the transportation of mortal remains. The organization has also demanded dedicated facilitation teams at Andaman Bhawan in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi to assist Islanders in medical and death-related emergencies.
The organization has additionally sought helpdesk counters at Veer Savarkar International Airport and Haddo Wharf, along with a policy for free or subsidized transportation. This includes free transportation through government ships for inter-island movement and subsidized air cargo services from the mainland to Sri Vijayapuram through administrative funding.
Another key demand is the time-bound issuance of all required NOCs and certificates within three hours, so that families do not face unnecessary delays during an already difficult period.
Mr. Lall, in his appeal to the Lieutenant Governor, described the issue as one concerning human sensitivity and the dignity of Islanders. He expressed hope that the Administration would take immediate and necessary action to establish a structured mechanism to assist families in transporting the mortal remains of their loved ones.
