MP Dalit man forced to transport 5-yr-old son’s body on handcart

We are helpless. We do not have any vehicle of our own and neither does the hospital. We managed to get hold of a handcart so we are taking the body in that.

In yet another incident highlighting the condition of health services in the Bundelkhand region, a Dalit family had to carry their five-year old son’s body on a handcart from the hospital to their home.

The incident occurred on Thursday night in Buxwaha town of Chhatarpur district.

On Thursday night, Gajendra Ahirwar, 5, died while undergoing treatment at the Buxwaha community health center.

His family members asked the hospital administration to provide a hearse vehicle for carrying the body to their home, which is roughly one and a half kilometres away from the hospital.

The hospital administration told them that they did not have a vehicle and asked them to make their own arrangements for taking Gajendra’s body.

The family somehow arranged a handcart on which they took the child’s body home.

Sunil Ahirwar, Gajendra’s uncle spoke about their helplessness in the situation.

“We are helpless. We do not have any vehicle of our own and neither does the hospital. We managed to get hold of a handcart so we are taking the body in that,” he said.

Buxwaha tehsildar Vineeta Jain said the administration was in the process of acquiring vehicles.

“I had inquired from the BMO about the matter and he told me that there is no hearse vehicle at the hospital or with the nagar panchayat.” She added that the nagar panchayat has prepared a resolution to purchase a hearse vehicle. BMO Dr LL Ahirwar could not be reached for comment.

The episode comes just after another Dalit, Gyasi Chadar, had to carry his 13-year-old son’s body on a bike after autopsy from the Badagao Community Health Center to his village.

The deceased’s father had asked the hospital authorities for a hearse vehicle but the hospital, as was the case in Buxwaha, did not have one.

In Tikamgarh district, where the incident took place, only two hearse vehicles are available. While one is stationed at the district hospital, the other is at Jatara CHC.