Small Scale Industries and district in-charge Minister Satish L. Jarkiholi has expressed his wish to improve the condition of all the 26 graveyards/crematoriums in the city as a model worth emulating all over the country.
Speaking during a cleanliness drive under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan organised by the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) at a crematorium in Chidambar Nagar here on Sunday, he said a graveyard should appear to be an ideal place of rest for the departed souls, for which a clean environment and a peaceful ambience should be created.
People attending to the last rites should be facilitated with water, a proper place to sit, proper electrical illumination and other provisions.
It should not be merely a place for cremating or burying the dead, but should be developed into a place where various public programmes could be held, which would go a long way in removing stigma and superstitious beliefs attached to graveyards, he said.
Mr. Jarkiholi, who has launched a campaign against superstition, has been organising seminars and having lunch at graveyards over the past one year. BCC Mayor Kiran Sainak, who also participated, promised to take up measures to improve the condition of crematoriums and graveyards. Over 50 pourakarmikas were engaged by the BCC to clean up the crematorium.
‘Graveyard should appear to be an ideal place of rest for the departed souls’
‘Beautification required to remove stigma and superstitious beliefs attached to them’
