‘Here I am’: B’luru Archdiocese’s Unique Burial Support Initiative Brings Succour to Families

By Verghese V Joseph –

Bengaluru: With many succumbing to COVID-19 pandemic since April last year, it has been a harrowing time for the affected families. The challenges relating to a Covid-related death in the family are many. To make matters worse, whenever a death occurred, there was no one to conduct the funeral services in a dignified manner. Responding to this grave situation, the Archdiocese of Bangalore began a unique volunteer initiative with a motto, “To have a dignified life is a basic human right, so is having a dignified death.”

We spoke to Rev. Fr Rajesh, Assistant Director of the ‘Here I Am’ initiative to get a sense of the noble work done by his dedicated team of volunteers. Excerpts:

How did this wonderful initiative come about? What is the focus of this initiative?

With COVID-19 affecting the whole world particularly the marginalised, it took its toll — physically, emotionally and spiritually. People lost hope, panicked and went through crisis after crisis such as not getting beds, oxygen to treat the patient and no place to bury the dead. There was no one to conduct even a funeral service in a dignified manner. The ‘Here I Am’ initiative was born out of this desire to perform the last rites for the dead irrespective of their cast or creed, religion or status.

The ‘Here I Am’ Covid-19 Burial Squads Volunteers group initiative began on 24th July 2020 with the blessings of the Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Peter Machado. This initiative was handed over to Rev. Fr Santhosh Royan, the Director and to me.

The team provides coffin boxes and ambulance facilities free to poor families and for those who request. Our volunteers collect the bodies from the hospitals, if it is home death; they wrap the body, brings it to the burial ground and complete the final rites. Despite several challenges, they work tirelessly sometimes they themselves dig the grave when diggers are not available.

We also help the families to find beds at the hospitals, oxygen cylinders / concentrators, food kits and cooked foods for the migrants, transgender community, daily wage workers and others.”

What is the process flow of your initiative? How does one contact you or the team? Do they have to call a certain number? How are the costs of burial managed?

Our helpline no. is 9620809965. Volunteers like Mary Raji and Akshaya work as main coordinators, and Sagaya Raj, Christopher Raja and Jerry work as the zonal coordinators of this team. After the necessary documentation such as Aadhaar card details, death certificate, COVID-19 positive certificate, etc.), coordinator Akshaya calls the family member to ask what they require. Those who cannot afford, a coffin is sent across. They collect data and help the volunteers to do the needful.

Initially, free transportation of the bodies to the burial/cremation sites was done in association with the Mercy Angels, but now we use ambulances donated by VTT, a local enterprise.

The city of Bengaluru has been divided into four zones, namely: Mysore Road Cemetery, Kalpalli & Ulsoor Cemeteries, Hosur Road Cemetery and Kodathi Cemetery. Each zone has a leader. There are two coordinators for these four zones. Whenever a call comes through, it is routed to the coordinators and they in turn will inform the zonal leader. The zonal leaders will then action out the volunteers. The respective particular zonal leader will also call priests for the blessing of the body.

All the expenses for PPE kits, gloves, sanitizers, etc., are taken care through the Archdiocese of Bangalore Multipurpose Social Service Society (BMSSS) Disaster Relief Fund. Committed benefactors who donate generously for the cause also help us.

How were the volunteers roped in? What’s their background and the team size?

The volunteer awareness drive was created based on the need of the hour and a Google Form was circulated through social media platforms like WhatsApp, and Facebook inviting volunteers to join this team. Initially, most of them were hesitant, as they feared the stigma attached to the illness. It began with a handful of volunteers, but then later many came forward to join the team knowing the noble service extended by the volunteers.

Depending on different age groups, volunteers were segregated for different tasks. Four helpline numbers for Bengaluru East, West, North, and South to take calls for help was set up.

The total number of volunteers now stand at 74 from different communities and comprise of both men and women (students and working class).

Aren’t you or the volunteers worried about contracting any illness? What are the safety precautions adopted to ensure there is no health risk? Any training provided.

Initially, most of them were hesitant, as they feared the stigma attached to the illness.  We provide regular training programs for the volunteers in person and virtually of their safety on how to handle the burials. Doctors and BBMP officials are invited to guide the volunteers. When the volunteers go for burial, they are provided with PPE kits, PPE Jumpsuit set, water bottle, sanitizer, extra gloves, bleaching powder, biscuits and soft drinks. Their families are also provided with health kits. Every individual volunteer’s health is monitored. As for now, no volunteer is affected with Covid-19.

We train the volunteers in use of PPE kits, how to touch the body, how to keep distance.

Sometimes, the volunteers themselves dig the graves when the gravediggers are not available. Not only men but also women take part actively in this work.

They are also present from morning to night at the funeral sites to help family members of the deceased.

Besides, priests make themselves available for blessing the bodies. Fr John Anthony, Fr Chinnarao, Rev. Fr Anthony Reddy, Fr Devakumar, Fr Sandaygue, Fr Vincent Santhosh, Fr Gabriel Christy, Fr D. Chinnappa, Fr Dominic Xavier, Fr Chowrappa, Fr Vincent Kiran and Fr Amal Raj Crispin are always available for the blessing.

People such as Santhosh Peter and Perico Prabhu are always around to provide medical support to the volunteers whenever they need. They also help out with beds, oxygen cylinders and other aspects of the medical facilities.

How many burials has your team arranged until now?

They handle at least 15 to 30 burials and cremations per day. More significant is the humanitarian aspect they display in comforting the relatives of the dead. Until date, this team has done more than 1900 burials since the first wave.

Every burial that they have done is a unique consolation to the families, a dignified farewell to the loved ones, a sense of solidarity, and an assurance of “We are with you”, a sense of belonging and so on. All the affected families have expressed their immense gratitude to the team for the service rendered during their trying times.