Tribal villages in Shahapur struggle to cremate their dead

Shahapur/Thane: Even as India celebrates the 78th year of Independence after the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", a haunting reality persists just 73 kilometers from Mumbai. In Shahapur taluka of Thane district known for its dense tribal population over 328 villages and hamlets still lack proper cremation grounds, forcing residents to perform last rites in the open, under scorching sun or heavy rains, sometimes using tarpaulins to shield the deceased from the weather.

One such tragic incident recently unfolded in Shedrun village, where the body of a local resident, Daulat Pandurang Bhagat, had to be cremated in the open during a downpour. With no shelter or designated cremation site, the villagers were seen holding up a plastic tarpaulin over the funeral pyre to protect it from the rain. Despite previous approvals for cremation grounds in the village, internal disputes and administrative delays have halted the process.

Shahapur taluka comprises 110 gram panchayats, 227 revenue villages, and over 414 hamlets, yet basic infrastructure remains elusive. According to local reports:

• 328 villages still perform open-air cremations.

• Only 31 locations have protective walls around cremation sites, while 681 sites lack any boundary protection.

• Electricity is unavailable at 680 cremation grounds, forcing villagers to conduct funerals by lantern light.

• Water access is missing at 654 sites, available only at 59.

• 229 sites are in dilapidated condition, while only 231 are considered usable.

These figures were confirmed by data from the Nagar Panchayat administration, revealing a disturbing pattern of neglect and underdevelopment in essential public facilities.

While speaking to The Perfect Voice, Shahapur Tehsildar Parmeshwar Kasule, said the issue in Shedrun, stating that 4 gunthas of land within the village gaothan has been earmarked for a cremation ground. However, due to conflicting opinions among villagers some opposing the use of pasture (gairan) land fearing future scarcity — the project has not progressed.

When asked about the larger issue of cremation ground shortages in 328 villages, Tehsildar Kasule downplayed the situation, stating “only Shedrun has a problem, the rest are fine”, a claim strongly disputed by village leaders and social activists.

Local leaders like Sharad Mogre, district organizer of Shahapur Taluka Sarpanch Association, noted that requests for funds and proposals were sent to the Zilla Parishad’s Public Works Department over two and a half years ago but were ignored.

Bharat Ubale, former director of the Shahapur Agricultural Produce Market Committee, labeled the recent Shedrun incident “deeply unfortunate,” urging the administration to urgently allocate funds and resolve the cremation ground crisis.

Activists like Vasant Pansare, President of the Prahar organization, highlighted the even more distressing fact that some villagers must cross rivers and streams during the monsoon to carry bodies to remote cremation sites due to a complete lack of roads.

That such a grim reality exists in the Deputy CM’s own district is sparking widespread outrage. Residents and activists are now calling on state and district-level authorities to act urgently and with compassion, to ensure dignified last rites for every citizen, regardless of geography or socio-economic status.