Without water and electricity facilities in the crematorium, locals of Minjiwoong chiwog under Serthig Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar find it difficult to organise rituals during funerals.
The state of the million ngultrum crematorium constructed in 2012 is worrying. Water tap runs dry. Some said water pipes were washed away by landslides leaving the crematorium without water. And It looks like the toilet has never been put to use. Which means open defecation is the only choice.
The locality has power supply but it never reached the crematorium. Everything is in place. It is just waiting to be connected with electricity. It has been like this for a few years now.
This is only the crematorium for the villagers of five chiwogs in Serthig gewog. Death is one of the occasions of major religious significance for the deceased and survivors. And locals demand improved facilities.
“We don’t have water and electricity in our crematorium. We face many problems. Firstly without the water connection, we have to fetch water from Jomori and use solar and candles without electricity supply,” said Wangda, from Serthig Gewog.
“It is very difficult without water and electricity. Sometimes we have to keep dead bodies for more than two to three days, so without water and power, it is not easy. If there is power, we will be able to conduct rituals even during the night and it will be comfortable for us to prepare food and organise other activities,” added Pema Tshering, from the same gewog.
The crematorium does not have a caretaker. According to Serthig Gewog Administration, they are not able to connect with electricity due to lack of budget since they will have to buy a transformer. And the gewog plans to bring power and water to the crematorium by next year.
Kinley Wangchuk
