Sri Vijaya Puram, October 5: Hindu Rashtra Shakti has urged the Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to establish an immediate and centralized system for the transportation of mortal remains of Islanders from the mainland to Sri Vijaya Puram and onward to the inter-islands.
In a representation submitted to the Lieutenant Governor, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, Rakeshwar Lall, described the issue as a serious humanitarian concern faced by families when a death occurs outside the Islands.
The organisation stated that Islanders often travel to mainland cities such as Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi for advanced medical treatment, but families face considerable difficulties and financial hardship when they have to bring the mortal remains of their loved ones back to the Islands for the last rites.
According to the representation, there is currently no centralized single-window mechanism to assist families with the various formalities involved in transporting mortal remains. Families may have to coordinate with hospitals, police authorities, the Shipping Department and airlines for documents such as NOCs, embalming certificates and cargo bookings.
Hindu Rashtra Shakti further claimed that air transportation of mortal remains from Chennai or Kolkata to Sri Vijaya Puram can impose a substantial financial burden on families, particularly those from remote and economically vulnerable areas. The organisation stated that the reported costs could range from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.50 lakh, depending on the circumstances and transportation arrangements.
The representation also highlighted concerns over delays caused by documentation procedures, transportation availability and the lack of adequate cold-storage facilities. It claimed that in some cases, families are required to wait for several days before the mortal remains can be transported to the Islands.
The organisation has sought the establishment of a 24x7 centralized single-window cell at Sri Vijaya Puram, preferably under the Health or Shipping Department, to coordinate all cases involving the transportation of mortal remains.
It has also demanded dedicated facilitation teams at Andaman Bhawan in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi to assist Islanders with hospital, police, embalming and transportation formalities.
Hindu Rashtra Shakti has further called for helpdesk counters at Veer Savarkar International Airport and Haddo Wharf to provide families with clear information regarding procedures, documentation and available transportation options.
Among its major demands, the organisation has sought free transportation through government ships for inter-island movement of mortal remains and a subsidized air-cargo mechanism for transportation from the mainland to Sri Vijaya Puram through Administration support.
It has also urged the authorities to introduce a time-bound mechanism for issuing the required NOCs and certificates, preferably within three hours, wherever all necessary documents are available.
Describing the matter as one involving human sensitivity and the dignity of Islanders, Rakeshwar Lall appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to take immediate action and establish an institutional mechanism so that bereaved families are not left to navigate multiple departments during a time of grief.
